William Noble, 1st Baron Kirkley

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William Joseph Noble, 1st Baron Kirkley (13 January 1863–11 September 1935) was a British shipowner.

Noble was born in Newcastle upon Tyne. He entered the shipping business at the age of fifteen and became a partner in Cairns, Noble & Co, which operated the Cairn Line and was later taken over by Furness, Withy & Co Ltd, of which he became a director. He remained chairman of the Cairn Line until his death.

Noble was first honorary president of the Baltic and White Sea Conference from 1913 to 1921 and also served as president of the Chamber of Shipping in 1920 and on the Executive of the Shipping Federation. He was a member of the Tyne Improvement Commissioners and was shipping representative on the advisory sub-committee of the Ministry of Transport. He was vice-president of the Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce from 1915 until his death and was president of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers in 1919–1921 and 1929. During the First World War he served on a number of government and local committees. In 1930 he led the British Economic Mission to South Africa.

He was created a Baronet in the 1921 Birthday Honours^[1] and created 1st Baron Kirkley in 1930, taking his title from Kirkley Hall, Northumberland, which he bought in 1929.

His titles became extinct upon his death, as his only son was killed in action in 1917.