Born in Auckland 8 December 1854, Partington is best known for his photographic practice established in Auckland at the turn of the century. He maintained a studio at 24 Grey Street, Auckland until the block was destroyed by fire in 1891.

Partington relocated to Wanganui with his wife, Mary Jane Goldie and his three children and set up a studio in the Caxton Building on Victoria Avenue. His photographic works appeared in tourism magazines, newspapers and postcards of the period.

During this time William Partington completed a series of Māori portraits. These photographs were taken in the Wanganui area. While a large number of these were studio portraits, Partington also travelled to the Wanganui river to complete his series of portraits. In 1908 he returned to Auckland where he was commissioned to work for the Auckland Star.

Of particular note was William Partington's familial ties. He was related to the artist Charles Frederick Goldie (1870-1947). His sister, Maria Partington married David Goldie, and was the mother of the Charles Frederick Goldie. Partington's wife Mary Jane Goldie was the sister of David Goldie, the father of Charles Frederick Goldie.

C.F. Goldie would often use his uncles photographs as reference material in his teaching studio as can be seen in the painting by Vera Cumming of Chief Tamarere, a chief from Koriniti and Atene on the Whanganui River. Vera Cumming was C.F. Goldie's leading student and was praised for her ability to reproduce the tonality of her master's paintings. Although Cummings and Goldie often painted Māori who were staying at a local hostel in Parnell, the painting of Chief Tamarere is based on a photograph of Tamerere by William Henry Thomas Partington.

A collection of Partington's work is held by the Alexander Turnbull Library and Te Papa Tongarewa hold a collection of 88 prints.