William Rathbone VI (11 February 1819 – 6 March 1902) was an English merchant and businessman noted for his philanthropic and public work.

He remained a partner until 1885 and is said to have regarded wealth and business success chiefly as a means to the achievement of public and philanthropic work.

[2] When Rathbone's first wife Lucretia was dying in 1859 she was cared for at home by a private nurse, Mrs Mary Robinson, who had received training at St. Thomas' Hospital London,[3] Seeing the difference a trained nurse could make for a patient in a wealthy household prompted him to pursue bringing such benefits for poor people.

The institute was founded using money donated by the women of England for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.

[2] They had five children, but Lucretia died shortly after the birth of the fifth, Ted, who was drowned in a sailing accident on Derwent water in 1886.