William J. Foley (March 2, 1887 – December 1, 1952) was an American attorney and politician who served as District Attorney of Suffolk County, Massachusetts from 1927 until his death 1952.
Foley was found dead in his home on December 1, 1952. The cause of death was a heart attack. He was survived by his wife and two children, one of whom, William J. Foley Jr., was an assistant district attorney and a Boston City Councilor.[1] Foley's first assistant, Garrett H. Byrne, was chosen by Governor Paul A. Dever, to succeed him despite pressure to give the job to the younger Foley or another well known political figure.[6]