Fort William, small town (police burgh), on E. side of Loch Linnhe, and at foot of Ben Nevis, in co. and 65½ m. SW. of Inverness -- town, pop. 1594; police burgh, pop. 1565; P.O., T.O., 3 Banks. Fort William was originally called Gordonsburgh, and then Maryburgh. It is a centre for tourists, and a starting-point for the ascent of Ben Nevis. The fort, erected by General Monk, and rebuilt by General Mackay (1689), is now occupied as private dwelling-houses.

(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))