Sir George Williams (11 October 1821 – 6 November 1905) was an English philanthropist, businessman and founder of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA).

[1] The oldest and largest youth charity in the world, its aim is to support young people to belong, contribute and thrive in their communities.

[5] In 1841, he went to London and worked as an apprentice at Hitchcock & Rogers, a draper's shop, and became a member of the King's Weigh House Congregational Church, using his time for evangelisation.

His funeral took place at St Paul's Cathedral[6] on 14 November 1905, with 2,600 people in attendance[4] and is commemorated with a bust atop his family vault at Highgate Cemetery (west).

The name, Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), was settled on at the suggestion of Christopher W. Smith, a fellow draper at Hitchcock & Rogers.

Williams was knighted by Queen Victoria in her 1894 Birthday Honours, YMCA's silver jubilee year, as well as receiving the Freedom of the City of London.