Charles William Tyrrell (16 May 1910 – 7 January 1972) was a British chartered accountant who was instrumental in establishing the Booker Prize.

In September 1949, he married Joan Hayman Tyrrell (née Hooper) and they had three daughters, Emma, Sally and Beverly.

He joined the Booker Group (formerly Booker-McConnell) and became the first Chairman of the Author's Division, acquiring rights to Ian Fleming and Agatha Christie’s works, among others.

On 6 May 1968, Tom Maschler, of Jonathan Cape and Publishers’ Association, wrote to Tyrrell to suggest instituting “a major literary award” and requested finance from Booker-McConnell.

[1] A decision to proceed with the establishment of a prize was communicated to Maschler by Tyrrell in person at the offices of Jonathan Cape on 8 May 1968.