William Warder Norton

William Warder Norton (September 17, 1891 – November 7, 1945) was a publisher and co-founder of W. W. Norton & Company.

Early life William Warder Norton was born on September 17, 1891, in Springfield, Ohio, to Emily (née Warder) and Percy Norton. His father was a salesman and patent lawyer in Springfield. His maternal grandfather William Warder was also a lawyer. His grand uncle was Springfield manufacturer Benjamin H. Warder.

Career In 1912, Norton became foreign sales manager for Kilbourne & Jacobs Manufacturing. After four years, he worked for Harrisons & Crosfield, an English trading firm based in Philadelphia and traveled internationally, including Australia, in that role.

Norton founded W. W. Norton & Company with his wife and acquired manuscripts from notable American academics. He served as its president and editor-in-chief. His vision for the company was to publish "the best books we can lay our hands on and then keep our hands on them as long as may be". They had one child, Anne Aston Warder. He also had a home on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. At the time of his death, he owned of farmland in Springfield, Ohio.

Norton went by his middle name Warder in his business life. He was close friends with artist Lyonel Feininger. He died on November 7, 1945, at Doctors Hospital in New York City.