Wilhelm Mauseth (October 8, 1875 – June 11, 1948) was a Norwegian speedskater.
He was born on October 8, 1875 in Bakke, Norway. He set a world record in 500 m in 1895 with the time 46.8.[1] He was two time national all-round champion, in 1895 and 1896. Around the turn of the century he emigrated to South Africa and in he married Sarah Anne Beemin in Cape Town, South Africa.
He worked as a surveyor for George Pauling, the main contractor to Cecil Rhodes, who was at that time opening up and building a railway and telegraph system in Rhodesia.
He later changed his name to William Alfred Manseth, and fought with distinction with the Nyasaland Rhodesia Mechanical Forces in the 1914-1918 Great War (possibly in Tanganika), he was promoted to Acting Captain. He was "mentioned in despatches" a couple of times and was awarded the MBE by the British government.
He had a hand in surveying the sewarge system in Johannesburg. He died of cancer in on June 11, 1948, in Whites OFS.