William Copeland | |
|---|---|
| Born | Johan Martinius Thoresen 10 January 1834 Tromøy, Norway |
| Died | 11 February 1902 (aged 67) Yokohama, Japan |
| Resting place | Foreign General Cemetery, Yokohama |
| Occupation | Brewer |
| Known for | Founding the Spring Valley Brewery |
William Copeland (born Johan Martinius Thoresen; 10 January 1834 – 11 February 1902) was a Norwegian-American brewer. He was the founder of one of Japan's first beer breweries, Spring Valley Brewery in Yamate, Yokohama, in 1869. The brewery was the precursor to Kirin Brewery Company, one of Japan's largest domestic beer producers.