William Paul Dowling (1824-1877) was a painter, engraver and photographer. He was transported to Hobart Town as a political prisoner, in 1849. Dowling worked in partnership with his photographer brother, Matthew Patrick Dowling until the latter accused William of selling his photographs as his own. He commenced photographic activities on the introduction of the wet-plate process, advertised extensively including the provision of 'portraits for 'Christmas', 'portraits of children in one second', and execution of portraits of the deceased based on early photographs. He worked from several photographic studios in Hobart and Launceston from 1851-1874. He died in Launceston on 3 August, 1877.