William F. Paul

File:William F. Paul by P. T. Cole (1862-1939).png]]

William Francis Paul (1850-4 April, 1928) was a business man in Ipswich, Suffolk who was active in politics and became a benefactor to the town.{{cite web |last1=Rudd-Jones |first1=Nicholas |title=Ipswich |url=https://urbanrambles.org/walks/uk/england/east-of-england/ipswich-2531 |website=Urban Rambles |publisher=Nicholas Rudd-Jones |access-date=20 January 2022 |date=1 June 2016}}

William was born in Ipswich in 1850, son of Robert Paul, a corn merchant, and his wife Elizabeth (Woods).{{cite web |title=Suffolk Artists - PAUL, William Francis |url=https://suffolkartists.co.uk/index.cgi?choice=painter&pid=1630 |website=suffolkartists.co.uk |access-date=20 January 2022}} When his father died in 1864, William and his brother Robert S. Paul inherited their father's business following a period when it was administered by their maternal uncles. This firm later became known as R. & W. Paul Ltd..{{cite web |last1=van Loon |first1=Borin |title=Pauls Malting |url=https://www.ipswich-lettering.co.uk/paulsmalting.html |website=www.ipswich-lettering.co.uk |publisher=Borin van Loon |access-date=23 December 2022}}

Paul established the William Paul Housing Trust, an Almshouse with 80 properties in Ipswich. The Anchor Hanover Group was the sole trustee in 2022.{{cite web |title=William Paul Housing Trust |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/212597/trustees |website=register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk |publisher=Charity Commission |access-date=23 December 2022}}