People of Commerce and Industry
Liverpool's rise as a global trading powerhouse was built by visionary entrepreneurs who created companies, shipping lines, and retail empires that shaped modern commerce.
Industrialists and Merchants
Industrialists and merchants whose work connected Liverpool to global trade networks.
William Lever (1st Viscount Leverhulme)
1851-1925
Founded Lever Brothers (now Unilever), one of the world's largest consumer goods companies, pioneering branded soap products.
Born in Bolton but built his business empire from Merseyside, founding Port Sunlight.
Thomas Henry Ismay
1837-1899
Founder of the White Star Line, one of the most famous shipping companies in history.
Based in Liverpool, built the company into a transatlantic shipping giant.
Sir Alfred Lewis Jones
1845-1909
Shipping magnate who developed trade routes to West Africa and founded the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Liverpool-based shipping entrepreneur and philanthropist.
John Moores
1896-1993
Founded Littlewoods, creating a retail and mail-order empire, and owned Everton FC.
Built his business empire in Liverpool, becoming one of Britain's wealthiest men.
Owen Owen
1847-1910
Founded Owen Owen department stores, pioneering modern retail in Liverpool.
Welsh-born entrepreneur who established his flagship store on Liverpool's Clayton Square.
David Lewis
1823-1885
Founded Lewis's department stores, one of Britain's most successful retail chains.
Liverpool-based retailer whose flagship store became a city landmark.
Explorers and Innovators
Explorers and innovators who used Liverpool as a base or formative environment.
Sir John Hanning Speke
1827-1864
Explorer who discovered the source of the Nile.
Departed from Liverpool for his African expeditions.
Mary Seacole
1805-1881
Pioneering nurse who served in the Crimean War.
Arrived in Liverpool from Jamaica, using the city as her base.
Business Legacy
Global Trade Hub
Liverpool's merchants built trading networks spanning every continent, making the city one of the world's most important commercial centres.
Innovation in Retail
From department stores to mail-order catalogues, Liverpool entrepreneurs pioneered new ways of reaching consumers.
Philanthropy
Many Liverpool business leaders used their wealth to fund hospitals, universities, parks, and cultural institutions.
Connect for Commerce
Liverpool International connects business professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors worldwide.
Register Your Interest