History

The Trust was established at the wish of William Hesketh Lever, the first Viscount Leverhulme.

As a Victorian businessman and entrepreneur of exceptional creativity and energy, he built an industrial empire on the rapid rise of a mass market for basic consumer products. From the earliest days, he was also a philanthropist, supporting a variety of educational, religious, civic, community, and medical causes. His achievements were recognised in 1922 when the title of Lord Leverhulme of the Western Isles was conferred upon him.

On his death in 1925, Lord Leverhulme left a proportion of his interest in the company he had founded, Lever Brothers, in trust for specific beneficiaries and, in particular, for certain trade charities. The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust was established.