William Day Wills

William Day Wills

the tomb of William Day Wills at Arnos Vale Cemetery

William Day Wills (6 June 1797 - 13 May 1865) was a 19th-century, British tobacco merchant who in 1830 co-founded W.D. & H.O. Wills, a company that by the late 1800s became the largest importer of tobacco, and manufacturer of tobacco products in Britain.

Career

William Day Wills was born on 6 June 1797 in Bristol to Henry Overton Wills I and his wife Ann Day. His father with a partner named Samuel Watkins had opened a tobacco shop in 1786 at 73 Castle Street in Bristol, and went on to head a succession of successful tobacco companies.^[1] William and his brother Henry Overton Wills II in 1815 joined their father's firm, and became co-owners of the company in 1826 when the elder Henry died. The brothers then in 1830 founded W.D. & H.O. Wills, which grew to become the leading importer of tobacco, and manufacturer of tobacco products in late 19th-century Britain. William retired in 1851 from full-time management of the family firm, and his responsibilities were taken over by his son William Henry Wills.^[2][3][4]

Wills made an unsuccessful foray into politics in 1838 when he ran as the Liberal Party candidate for Councillor of the Redcliffe ward in Bristol. However, he was successful on his second attempt in 1846, when he was elected Councillor for the St. Paul's ward of the city, a position that his brother Henry had previously held. He was also an active a supporter of the Congregationalist faith, and he and his brother were founder trustees in 1841 of the Hanham Chapel and in 1843 of the Barton Hill Chapel, both located in the Bristol suburbs. Although William retired in 1851 from W.D. & H.O. Wills, he remained active in local politics. He continued until 1861 to represent the St. Paul's ward of the city, and to serve as a Charity Trustee from 1852 until his death. He also was Justice of the Peace at the time of his death.^[4][5]

Death

Wills, who like his brother Henry grew partially deaf in later years, was fatally injured on 11 May 1865 as he was walking on a city street during a visit to London. His left leg was severely crushed when he inadvertently stepped in front of a horse-drawn carriage that he did not hear the approach of. He was rushed to St Bartholomew's Hospital, where his leg was amputated, but the strain was too much and he died on 13 May 1865 two days after the operation. His body was taken to Arnos Vale Cemetery in Bristol the following week, where several hundred mourners attended his funeral.^[4][6]

Family

William Day Wills on May 2, 1820 in London married Mary Steven, with whom he had three children.^[7] Their son William Henry Wills became known on 12 August 1893 as Lord Winterstoke, when he was created a baronet by Queen Victoria. Then Lord Winterstoke in 1901 became chairman of the Imperial Tobacco Company, which effectively made him the head of the British tobacco industry.^[8]

Residence - No 2 Portland Square, Bristol.

References