List of Freemen of the City of Liverpool
The title of Freedom of the City
is an honorary title granted by a city or corporation. It is granted to individuals to recognise exceptional services, usually to the city, or occasionally to the nation. Since the enactment of the Honorary Freedom of Boroughs Act 1885, councils of boroughs and cities in England and Wales have been permitted to resolve to admit "persons of distinction" to be honorary freemen. This list is based on that published by the City of Liverpool. The Honour can also be awarded to Military Units or other Uniformed Services. when done this s referred to as the "Freedom of Entry".
| Name | Dates | Appointed | Notes |
| 1824–1902 | Military engineer, then colonial official who became Governor of the Straits Settlements; earlier he helped to stabilise the dam at Lake Vyrnwy. | ||
| 1824–93 | Developer of breweries, local politician, benefactor, and founder of the Walker Art Gallery. | ||
| Liverpool merchant who paid for the building of the Home for Ancient Mariners. | |||
| 1819–1902 | Liverpool merchant who worked to improve the nursing services in the city, and helped to found Liverpool University; he was MP for the Liverpool constituency. | ||
| 1819–99 | Sugar refiner in Liverpool, founder of the Tate Gallery, and benefactor of Liverpool University. | ||
| 1809–98 | Politician, born in Liverpool, who was Prime Minister four times. | ||
| 1823–1903 | Merchant who established considerable trade between Britain and China. Long time member of the city council and promoter of elementary education. | ||
| c1838–1923 | Mayor of Liverpool 1889–1890 and Lord Mayor 1896–1897. Took a prominent part in securing the extension of the city boundaries in 1895. As a magistrate worked for the reform of the licensing of public houses. Later knighted. | ||
| c1818–1903 | Businessman and banker, chairman of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board | ||
| Born in New South Wales, established the David Lewis Trust for the benefit of the working classes of Liverpool and Manchester. | |||
| 1838–1928 | Born in Liverpool, a collector of illuminated manuscripts, proprietor of the Pall Mall Gazette, and benefactor. | ||
| 1832–1914 | Army officer in charge of British troops in the Second Boer War. | ||
| 1840–1928 | Merchant, ship owner and politician; involved in financing the building of Liverpool Cathedral. First chairman of the Liverpool Overhead Railway. | ||
| 1841–1908 | Politician and Governor General of Canada. | ||
| 1832–1908 | Liverpool's first Lord Mayor. | ||
| 1835–1919 | Steelmaker and philanthropist who founded many free public libraries. | ||
| 1833–1919 | Merchant who gave his name to Gladstone Dock: chairman of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, and involved in the founding of Liverpool University and the planning of Liverpool Cathedral. | ||
| 1865–1948 | Politician who twice became Secretary of State for War and was the British Ambassador to France from 1918 to 1920. | ||
| 1862–1952 | Prime Minister of Australia 1915–1923 | ||
| 1837–1916 | Senior partner in a shipping firm, and local politician who gave the Roby Hall estate to the city; it is now known as Bowring Park, Knowsley. He married Isabel Maclean Jarvis, who was sympathetic to the suffering and needy among the poor of Liverpool. | ||
| Chairman of the Tramways Committee. | |||
| 1871–1936 | Admiral in the First World War and later First Sea Lord. | ||
| 1861–1928 | Commander of the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War. | ||
| An early benefactor of what was to become the University of Liverpool. | |||
| 1863–1928 | Political organiser, once described as 'the king of Liverpool'. | ||
| Chairman of the Joint Tunnel Committee who developed the Queensway Tunnel. | |||
| 1856–1938 | Trade unionist who was head of the National Union of Dock Labour in Liverpool and a founder member of the Independent Labour Party. | ||
| 1856–1936 | Chairman of C T Bowring & Co., merchants and shipowners. Lord Mayor of Liverpool 1925–1927. | ||
| 1883–1964 | Businessman and politician who was involved in the management of Lewis's department store, was Minister of Food in the Second World War, and later Chairman of the Conservative Party. | ||
| 1883–1951 | Submarine commander in the First World War and commander-in-chief of the Western Approaches in the Second World War. | ||
| 1887–1959 | Architect who designed many of Liverpool's art deco cinemas. | ||
| 1872–1947 | Partner in Alfred Holt & Co., benefactor of Liverpool University and Lord Mayor of Liverpool. | ||
| 1900–1977 | Birkenhead-born doctor who became the senior physician at Liverpool Royal Infirmary, Professor of Medicine at Liverpool University, and served in other major positions in the medical profession. | ||
| 1889–1986 | A partner in the Bibby Line and the first Bibby baronet. | ||
| 1902–1993 | Politician who was Labour MP for the Liverpool Wavertree constituency and later Lord Mayor of Liverpool. | ||
| Chairman of the Liverpool Cathedral Executive Committee who helped to raise money towards its building. | |||
| 1899–1970 | Known as "Bessie" Braddock, a trade union activist and Labour MP for the Liverpool Exchange constituency. | ||
| 1896–1993 | Businessman and philanthropist who established Littlewoods Football pools and Littlewoods mail-order business. Liverpool John Moores University is named after him. | ||
| 1919–1996 | Better known as Bob Paisley; player for Liverpool F.C., then captain, and later manager and director of the club. | ||
| 1940–1980 | Musician, composer, and political activist; member of The Beatles. | ||
| 1943–2001 | Musician and composer; member of The Beatles. | ||
| 1942 – | Musician, composer and animal rights activist; member of The Beatles. | ||
| 1940 – | Better known as Ringo Starr, drummer of The Beatles. | ||
| 1922–1991 | Left-wing politician, president of the Liverpool Trades Council, later MP for the Liverpool Walton constituency. | ||
| 1918 –2014 | Anti-apartheid activist who became the first black President of South Africa. | ||
| 1929–2005 | International cricketer who became Bishop of Liverpool. Worked closely with Archbishop Derek Worlock. | ||
| 1920–1996 | Bishop of Portsmouth, then Archbishop of Liverpool. Worked closely with Bishop David Sheppard. | ||
| 1932–1994 | Entertainer and charity worker; the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is named after him. | ||
| 1927 – 2018 | Liverpool comedian, actor, singer, composer, entertainer, and charity worker. | ||
| 1932–2000 | Birkenhead-born poet and painter; one of the Liverpool poets. | ||
| 1937 – | Liverpool-born poet; one of the Liverpool poets. | ||
| 1946 – | Liverpool-born poet and author of children's books; one of the Liverpool poets. | ||
| 1956 – | Businessman born in Liverpool who became the chief executive of Tesco. | ||
| 1961 – | British soldier injured in the Falklands War who later became recognised for his charity work. | ||
| 1925–2017 | Liverpool solicitor who has been involved in high profile and controversial cases. | ||
| 1942 – | Musician; onetime leader of Gerry & the Pacemakers | ||
| Principal of the Liverpool Theatre School | |||
| 1939– | First Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University | ||
| Founder of the children's charity Kind. | |||
| 1933– | President of the Board of Trade for helping to rebuild the city after the 1981 Toxteth riots. | ||
| Former principal of Liverpool Community College; mediator in the 1981 Toxteth riots. | |||
| All those who died in the Hillsborough disaster of 1989. This is the first time that the award has been granted posthumously. | |||
| 1948– | Chairman of the Hillsborough Independent Panel. | ||
| Chairman of the Eldonians Community Based Housing Association. | |||
| 1968- | Local radio | ||
| 1949– | Television producer and writer |
Military Units
- The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment: 14 September 2008.
- The War Widows Association : 1 December 2014.
- 208 Battery 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery: 14 October 2017.