Sir William Bower Forwood KBE DL (21 January 1840 – 23 March 1928) was an English merchant, shipowner and politician.
The brothers made a fortune "first from wartime speculation and blockade running, and then from exploiting telegraph and cotton futures".
William entered politics in 1868 when he was elected to Liverpool Town Council, serving on it for over 40 years, and was a JP for Lancashire from 1882.
[3][4] In 1888 he played an important part in raising money for the building of the Liverpool Overhead Railway, and in 1893 became its first chairman.
Forwood was treasurer of the executive committee responsible for raising money towards the building of Liverpool Cathedral at the beginning of the 20th century.
[1][5] Forwood was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Lancashire in April 1902,[6] and on 4 June 1902 received the Freedom of the City of Liverpool ″in recognition of the eminent services he has rendered to the municipality throughout his membership of the council, extending over a period of 33 years, ... and especially for the deep interest he has taken in the establishment of libraries and reeding-rooms in the city".