William Shield (1748-1829) was an English composer, violinist and theatre musician. Born in County Durham, he worked in London and became associated with the musical life of Covent Garden.

Shield wrote operas, songs, instrumental music and theatre pieces. His music appears in recital programmes and historic recordings as part of the English song and stage tradition.

His style is tuneful, direct and theatrically practical, shaped by the needs of singers and audiences. It belongs to the lively world of late eighteenth-century English theatre.

Though not a central repertory figure today, Shield remains a useful name in tracing English stage music between Arne and the nineteenth century. His music has the plain-spoken charm of a good theatre tune.