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William Wills

1797 – 1865

English tobacco manufacturer

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About William Wills

Lived 1797 – 1865 (aged 67). William Wills was a British industrialist, known for W.D. & H.O. Wills.

William Day Wills (6 June 1797 – 13 May 1865) of 2 Portland Square, Bristol, England, was a tobacco merchant who in 1830 together with his younger brother Henry Overton Wills II took over W.D. & H.O. Wills, a company which (building on the successful tobacco business established by their father) by the late 19th-century had become Britain's largest importer of tobacco and manufacturer of tobacco products.

Origins William Day Wills was born on 6 June 1797 in Bristol the elder of the two sons of Henry Overton Wills I (1761-1826) by his wife Ann Day. In 1786 his Salisbury-born father, with his partner Samuel Watkins, had opened a tobacco shop in Bristol, which grew into a successful business. by whom he had three children, of whom only one survived: (following which he was known as "Sir William Wills, 1st Baronet") and in 1906 was raised to the peerage as Baron Winterstoke "of Blagdon in the County of Somerset". In 1901 he became chairman of the Imperial Tobacco Company,

William Day

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Known for
W.D. & H.O. Wills
Also known as
William Day Wills

Family & relationships

Child
William Wills, 1st Baron Winterstoke

People in William Wills's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Wills's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Wills?

English tobacco manufacturer (1797–1865)

When was William Wills born?

William Wills was born on 6 June 1797 in Bristol.

When did William Wills die?

William Wills died on 13 May 1865 in London, St Bartholomew's Hospital.

What was William Wills's occupation?

William Wills was an industrialist.

What was William Wills known for?

William Wills was known for W.D. & H.O. Wills.

What nationality was William Wills?

William Wills was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Wills

· Wikidata: Q18811431

· DBpedia: William Day Wills

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Wills. https://biography.guide/william-wills/

MLA: "William Wills." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-wills/.

Chicago: "William Wills." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-wills/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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