William Saunders was born in Kirkcaldy in 1877. He matriculated at Edinburgh University in 1906 and followed courses in Economic History, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, and English Literature. He does not appear to have graduated.

Saunders published a text-book Ancient Handwriting: An Introductory Manual for Intending Students of Palaeography and Diplomatic in 1909. He was subsequently Honorary Secretary of Leith Nautical College and Editor of the Scottish Musical Magazine. He published articles and gave lectures and radio talks on a wide range of musical, literary, and historical subjects. He was also a keen book-collector who built a substantial personal library on the history and topography of Fife.

Saunders died 1948. James Clarkson Corson appears to have been appointed his literary executor, but we have not, as yet, established the nature of the relationship between Saunders and Corson.