William Johnston of Woodslee, Bromborough, Cheshire (1841 - 1917) was an early benefactor of the University of Liverpool

University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...

 in Liverpool

Liverpool

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. He was a wealthy Northern Irish ship owner who began business in Liverpool in 1863. The Johnston Laboratories

Johnston Laboratories

The Johnston Laboratories at the University of Liverpool in Liverpool, England performed a variety of pathology and medical research during the 20th century. They are now located in what is presently called the Johnston Building. The Laboratories were founded by early University benefactor and...

and the Johnston Chair of Biochemistry (the first Chair in Biochemistry to be established in the UK, in 1903) were named after him. He funded the Chair as part of a £25,000- philanthropic gift.