William Basset was an Anglo-Norman administrator and justice.

He was born in Colston, Nottinghamshire, the son of Richard Basset

Richard Basset (royal justice)

Richard Basset was an English royal judge and sheriff during the reign of King Henry I of England. His father was also a royal justice. In about 1122 Basset married the eventual heiress of another other royal justice; the marriage settlement has survived. In 1129 and 1130 Basset was sheriff of a...

, a royal justice and his wife Matilda Ridel. He settled in Sapcote, Leicestershire.

In 1160 he was appointed Sheriff of Warwickshire

High Sheriff of Warwickshire

The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...

 and Leicestershire

High Sheriff of Leicestershire

This is a list of High Sheriffs of Leicestershire. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...

 and served in that capacity, some years alone and some years jointly, until 1168. At that time, after being accused of financial irregularities, he was relieved of his post and replaced by Bertram de Verdun

Bertram de Verdun

Bertram de Verdun was the name of several members of the Norman family of Verdun, native of Avranchin.For the historian Mark Hagger, the Verdun family lived lavishly in Normandy where they were minor land holders, and after the Norman conquest of England they were granted land in England...

.

In 1172 he joined Bertram as one of the Justices in Eyre (travelling circuit judge) in Yorkshire.

In 1177 he was appointed Sheriff of Lincolnshire

High Sheriff of Lincolnshire

This is a list of High Sheriffs of Lincolnshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...

until 1183.

He married Elizabeth, daughter of Roger de Colville and had a son and heir Simon.