William Copeland (brewer)

William Copeland
Born
Johan Martinius Thoresen

(1834-01-10)10 January 1834
Arendal, Norway
Died11 February 1902(1902-02-11) (aged 67)
Yokohama, Japan
Resting placeForeign General Cemetery, Yokohama
OccupationBrewer
Known forFounding 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.