William Brooks (1762–1846) was a supplier of cotton to spinners around Whalley and Blackburn.
At first cotton manufacturing was the main activity, but in 1792 they founded Cunliffe Brooks Bank at Blackburn.
On Brooks' death in 1846 the bank moved its head office to Manchester.
He had married Sarah Greenall, the daughter of Richard Greenall They had three sons, including John and Samuel and a daughter, Nancy.
This United Kingdom business-related biographical article is a stub.