Sir William Collins (1817–1895) was a Scottish publisher, prominent in the temperance movement who served as Glasgow's Lord Provost between 1877 and 1880.

Under this management the business continued to expand with great rapidity till 1880, when it was reconstructed in accordance with the Companies Act 1880 (43 Vict.

c. 19) under the title of William Collins, Sons & Co., (Limited,)[5] as publishers, printers, bookbinders and manufacturing stationers, and has continued its growth till it became the largest establishment of the kind outside of London.

[6] The year 1878, was one of great commercial depression, aggravated by the disastrous failure of the City of Glasgow Bank, no fewer than 30,000 persons having been for some months dependent on public charity.

During that crisis Sir William's personal beneficence and public influence and exertions went a great length in mitigating distress and averting other evils that usually spring from it.

For instance, the Incorporation of Stationers of which he had been president, presented him with an illuminated address, signed by members of the company, and enclosed in a silver gilt casket, on the occasion of his elevation to the civic chair.

Again, his employees, in congratulating him on his attainment of fifty years in business, also presented him with an illuminated address, enclosed in a silver casket.

A. H. McLean Esq, in name of the subscribers, handed it over to the Corporation ; and in accepting it Lord Provost Ure made a happy speech highly eulogistic of his predecessor in the civic chair.