William Liston Brown (August 23, 1842 – November 1, 1929) was an American businessman and industrialist in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

Brown attended public schools, then spent two years at the Garden City Academy.

Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Brown enlisted in the Chicago Mercantile Independent Battery Light Artillery, serving until the end of the conflict.

Brown was also president of the South Chicago Furnace Company, a manufacturer of pig iron.

[1] He was a member of the Chicago, Commercial, Pointe Mouillee Shooting, Glen View, and Onwentsia Clubs.