William Debenham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Debenham
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|---|---|
| Born | 18 April 1794 Alpheton, Suffolk, England
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| Died | 24 September 1863 (aged 69) Kensal Rise, London, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Citizenship | British |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1813–1863 |
| Employer | Debenhams Ltd |
| Organization | Debenhams |
| Known for | Founder of Debenhams plc |
| Title | Chair of Debenhams |
| Term | 1813–1863 |
| Successor | William Debenham Jnr |
| Spouse(s) |
Caroline Freebody
(m. 1820) |
| Children |
|
| Relatives | Ernest Debenham Sir Piers Debenham Alison Debenham |
William Debenham was an important British businessman. He was born on April 18, 1794, and passed away on September 24, 1863. He is best known as the person who started Debenhams, which grew to become one of the biggest department stores in the United Kingdom.
Starting a Business
William Debenham was born in a place called Alpheton in Suffolk, England. In 1813, when he was about 19 years old, he joined forces with another businessman named Thomas Clark. They became partners and managed a store that sold fabrics and clothing, known as a draper's store. Their shop was located at 44 Wigmore Street in London.
Growing the Company
William and Thomas worked hard to make their business bigger. They opened more stores on both sides of Wigmore Street. One store was called Debenham & Clark, and the other was known as Clark & Debenham. This showed how much their business was growing!
When William Debenham got older and decided to retire, his son, also named William Debenham, took over. William Debenham Junior formed a new partnership with Clement Freebody. This new business continued to grow and eventually became the famous company we know as Debenhams. William Debenham Senior, the founder, passed away in 1863 in Kensal Rise, London.
His Family Life
In 1820, William Debenham married Caroline Freebody. They had a large family together, with six sons and four daughters.
