William Houghton Allen (April 14, 1788 - January 1855) was a bookseller and publisher in London, England. He was born in New Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England. Nothing is known of his early education, but he was admitted to the London Company of Stationers as a bookseller in 1817. Shortly afterwards, in 1818, he partnered with others to form 'Black, Kingsbury, Parbury and Allen'. This would evolve into Kingsbury, Parbury, and Allen (William Houghton Allen, Thomas Kingsbury, Charles Parbury) in 1822, and again into Parbury, Allen, and Co. in 1827. In 1835, he struck out on his or, partnering with his sons James Pearce Allen(1818 - 1878) and William Ferneley Allen (1816 - 1877) as 'W. H. Allen and Company'. As 'W. H. Allen, the firm established close ties with the British East India Company, who had offices nearby, also on Leadenhall Street. The firm later moved to 12 Waterloo Place. After Allen's death, the firm went through numerous acquisitions and mergers with the name 'W.H. Allen' persevering until 1991, when it was subsumed into Virgin Publishing.
