William Hill
- Born:
- August 3, 1903, Birmingham, England
- Died:
- October 15, 1971, Newmarket, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Bookmaker, Entrepreneur
Early Life and Education
- Left school at age 12.
- Worked as a farm labourer.
- Later worked in a factory in Birmingham.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began working as a message boy for a bookmaker in 1919.
- Founded William Hill Ltd in 1934, at a time when gambling was illegal in Britain except for on-course betting.
- Pioneered the use of credit betting and postal betting.
- Expanded the business significantly after World War II.
- The company was sold several times throughout his career, eventually becoming a publicly traded company.
- Despite various sales and rebrands, the William Hill name remained synonymous with betting.
Notable Works
- Establishment and development of William Hill Ltd into a leading bookmaking firm.
- Introduction of innovative betting practices.
Legacy and Impact
William Hill's legacy lies in his transformation of the betting industry in Britain. He built one of the most recognized and successful bookmaking companies, shaping the landscape of gambling for decades to come. The history of William Hill is chronicled by a number of publications, including some works that can be described as 'robert treat paine biography of william hill' in spirit, if not direct attribution, given their focus on Hill's life and business contributions. His entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to innovate helped to legitimize and popularize off-course betting.