William Rathbone V (17 June 1787-1 February 1868) was an English merchant and politician.
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A member of the noted Rathbone family of Liverpool, he was the eldest son of William Rathbone IV and Hannah Mary (née Reynolds). He was a Liverpool merchant in partnership with Richard Rathbone, his brother.
He was elected a Liberal councillor for Liverpool in 1835 and Mayor of Liverpool in 1837, and fought for social reforms. He was an active supporter of the Municipal Reform Act 1835, supported Kitty Wilkinson in establishing Liverpool public baths and wash-houses following the cholera epidemic, and was responsible for the for distribution of New England Relief funds during the Irish famine of 1846-1847.
He died on 1 February 1868 at Greenbank House, with over 1000 mourners attending his funeral.
He married Elizabeth, (1790-1882) daughter of Samuel Greg of Quarry Bank, Cheshire and Hannah (née Lightbody) in 1812 and had four children: Hannah Mary who married John Hamilton Thom,[1] William Rathbone VI, Samuel Greg and Philip Henry (1828-95).
He was the great-grandfather of the actor Basil Rathbone.