Career
Born in London to Richard Goss and Sophia Mann, William was a student at the School of Design at Somerset House in London, from where in 1857 he was employed as chief artist of the Stoke upon Trent firm of William Taylor Copeland. Shortly after, in 1858, William started his own business in Stoke upon Trent. At first he produced ivory porcelain of such quality as to merit an award at the 1851 International Exhibition.
His experiments led to marked improvements in jewelled porcelain and heraldic china.
These items made up a large portion of his production. These were soon joined by small items depicting interesting local scenery.
In 1906, a League of Goss Collectors was founded, becoming the International League in 1918
The business was taken over by Cauldon Potteries in 1929, the name Goss still being used. Finally it became a subsidiary of the Royal Doulton group.
By 1940, the Goss factory had ceased production.
In the late 1960s, became very collectable and in 1970 a modern Goss Collectors club was founded. Nearly all pieces of Gosware can be identified by a goshawk crest on the base with West. H. Goss printed underneath. Pieces made after 1931 also have the word England below the mark.
Besides his work in pottery, he wrote a few books, was the biographer of Llewellynn Jewitt, was vice-president of the North Staffordshire Field Club, a fellow of the Geographical Society and the Royal Meteorological Society.
He was buried in Hartshill cemetery.