William Mills (businessman)

William Mills (born circa 1856, died 1932) was a British inventor and businessman, best known as the inventor of the Mills bomb, a hand grenade used extensively by the British Army during World War I.

Born in Sunderland, England, Mills founded the Mills Munitions Factory in Birmingham. While he experimented with various improvements to grenades, his most famous invention, the No. 5 Mills bomb, was patented in 1915. It was designed to be a defensive weapon, thrown from trenches, and became a standard British Army grenade for many years.

Beyond the Mills bomb, William Mills was involved in other areas of engineering and manufacturing. He held patents for a range of inventions, mostly related to munitions and weaponry. He also served as chairman of William Mills Ltd, the company responsible for manufacturing the grenades.

His contribution to the war effort was significant, and the Mills bomb remained in service with the British armed forces in various forms until 1972.