Sir William Thorne (27 January 1839 – 28 March 1917) was a draper, milliner and businessman in Cape Town.

[1] Thorne was born in Pembrokeshire, Wales and as a young man, served his apprenticeship with West End drapers and outfitters and gained his experiences in the drapery business, while he worked at Harvey Nichols in London.

They bought a prime property in Cape Town on which their flagship store was built, and they devised a contract between them so that the partnership could function in South Africa and in London.

[1] Thorne was knighted in 1904 for his business success and for his long experience in and dedication to civic affairs.

He married Ellen Lane and had five children, and his oldest son, William John Thorne, became Mayor of Cape Town in 1918.