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Charles William Leng (April 6, 1859 — January 20, 1904) was an American historian, naturalist, entomologist, and author. He was a native of Richmond County, New York, Staten Island, and a student of its history and fauna, Charles William Leng, for over half a century interest in entomological studies, during which period he has received many honors from his fellow-scientists for his knowledge of the beetles of North America in general. He has written and published a large number of pamphlets and two volumes on the science of which he is a devotee and has occupied office in several societies.

Mr. Leng was born April 6, 1859, at what was then known as Factoryville, now West New Brighton, Richmond County, Staten Island, New York. He was the son of John Scott and Mary Steele (Wilson) Leng, who were natives of Hull, Yorkshire, England. John Scott Leng was born November 10, 1837, and in this country was an importer of iron and steel, having offices at No. 4 Fletcher Street, New York, from 1858 to the day of his death, February 1, 1888. His wife was born August 5, 1835 and died January 20, 1904.

Charles William Leng obtained his early education at the Lafayette Institute, Brooklyn, which he entered in 1868, remaining there until the school disbanded in 1872. He then took a course in the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute, graduating wit the degree of Bachelor of Science in engineering in 1877. When eighteen years of age, he entered his father's business. On the latter's death he succeeded to the business and operated it under the name of John S. Leng's Son and Company, until June 1, 1919, when he retired from mercantile business. The business included the importation of steel tubing and the jobbing of bicycles. In connection with his activities in the latter line of work Mr. Leng was for two terms elected president of the National Cycle Trade Association. In addition to the New York City offices the firm also had branches in the cities of Toledo, Ohio, Philadelphia, and Boston. Mr. Leng commenced his studies in entomology in 1873 and continued them throughout his business career. He was secretary of the Natural Science Association of Staten Island from 1881 to 1885 and was appointed curator of the Brooklyn Entomological Society in 1890.

P.S. 54, an elementary school on Staten Island, is also known as the Charles W. Leng School. The school's mascot is the ladybug, a reference to Leng's study of beetles.