Background
A member of the noted Rathbone family of Liverpool, he was the eldest son of William Rathbone IV and Hannah Mary (née Reynolds).
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 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 Acting 1835, supported Kitty Wilkinson in establishing Liverpool public baths and wash-houses following the cholera epidemic, and was responsible for the 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.
Rathbone married Elizabeth (1790–1882), daughter of Samuel Greg of Quarry Bank, Cheshire and Hannah (née Lightbody) in 1812.
Their children included:
Elizabeth who married John Paget
Hannah Mary who married John Hamilton Thom
William Rathbone VI
Samuel Greg
Philip Henry (1828-1895). He was the great-grandfather of the actor Basil Rathbone.