William B. Rochester (US Army brigadier general)

William B. Rochester (15 February 1826 – 11 November 1909) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the American Civil War, he attained the rank of brigadier general while assigned as Paymaster-General of the United States Army from 1882 to 1890.

A native of Angelica, New York, Rochester was the son of judge and legislator William B. Rochester (1789–1838). He was also the grandson of Nathaniel Rochester, the founder of Rochester, New York, and nephew of Thomas H. Rochester, who served as the city's mayor. Rochester pursued a business career in Buffalo, New York until 1851, when he moved to California during the California gold rush. Rochester resided in Sacramento, where he became an agent of the Wells Fargo Express Company.

In 1859, Rochester returned to New York. He joined the Union Army for the American Civil War and was commissioned as a major in the Pay Department. He served until the end of the war, and in July1865 he received a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel in recognition of his wartime accomplishments.

In 1867, Rochester was commissioned in the regular army, and was appointed chief paymaster of the District of New Mexico. Subsequent assignments included chief paymaster of the Department of the South. In 1882, Rochester was appointed as the army's paymaster-general with the rank of brigadier general. He served until 1890, when he attained the mandatory retirement age of 64.

In retirement, Rochester resided in Washington, DC and spent summers at Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. He died in Washington on 11 November 1909. Rochester was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.