| William Debenham | |
| Birth Date: | 1794 4, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Alpheton, Suffolk, England |
| Death Place: | Kensal Rise, London, England |
| Nationality: | British |
| Citizenship: | British |
| Years Active: | 1813–1863 |
| Term: | 1813–1863 |
| Successor: | William Debenham Jnr |
William Debenham (; 18 April 1794 – 24 September 1863) was the founder of Debenhams, once one of the largest retailers in the United Kingdom.
Born in 1794 in Alpheton in Suffolk,[1] William Debenham joined Thomas Clark in a partnership to manage a draper's store at 44 Wigmore Street in London.[2]
The partners later expanded the business such that it had stores on both sides of Wigmore Street, one known as Debenham & Clark and the other known as Clark & Debenham.[2] When William Debenham Snr retired a new partnership was formed between his son, William Debenham Jnr, and Clement Freebody.[2] This business became Debenhams, one of the largest retailers in the United Kingdom.[2] William Debenham Snr died in 1863 at Kensal Rise in London.[1]
William married Caroline Freebody in 1820 and together they had six sons and four daughters.[1]