Sir William Ernest Cain, 1st Baronet (7 May 1884 – 5 May 1924) was an English brewer and philanthropist.
Cain was the son of Robert Cain, who had founded a large brewing empire, Robert Cain & Sons Ltd. The firm was taken over as joint managing directors by William Cain and his brother, Charles Nall-Cain, who continued to develop the business.
During the First World War, Cain donated his old home, Wilton Manor at West Kirby, to the government as a convalescent hospital for officers and paid for its conversion and equipment. He also donated money to many other war charities. For these services, he was knighted in 1917 and created a Baronet in the 1920 New Year Honours.[1]
Cain died in 1924 at the age of fifty. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his only son, Ernest. His other son, Charles William Cain (1893–1962), was a celebrated dry-point etcher