Frederick William Atherton (August 6, 1865-April 4, 1936) was a Harvard educated businessman from Boston, Massachusetts. He was a founding Trustee of Wentworth Institute of Technology and of other various academic institutions. He was associated with a number of foundations and charitable trusts. He served a single term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives after being elected to the 117th Massachusetts General Court in 1895 for the 21st district. He was a prominent social figure in Washington, D.C. for over 25 years, until his sudden death in 1936.