1. William Henry Quilliam, who changed his name to Abdullah Quilliam and later Henri Marcel Leon or Haroun Mustapha Leon, was a 19th-century British convert from Christianity to Islam, noted for founding England's first mosque and Islamic centre, and Britain's oldest Muslim organization, the Association of British Muslims.
William Henry Quilliam was born at 22 Eliot Street, Liverpool, on 10 April 1856, to a wealthy local family.
Abdullah Quilliam spent most of his childhood on the Isle of Man and was brought up as a Methodist.
Abdullah Quilliam was educated at the Liverpool Institute and the Manx King William's College.
Abdullah Quilliam became a solicitor in 1878, specialising in criminal law, and practising at 28 Church Street, Liverpool.
Abdullah Quilliam converted to Islam in 1887 after visiting Morocco to recover from an illness.
Abdullah Quilliam purchased numbers 8,11 and 12 Brougham Terrace, Liverpool, following his conversion, thanks to a donation from Nasrullah Khan, Crown Prince of the Emirate of Afghanistan.
Abdullah Quilliam opened a boarding school for boys and a day school for girls, as well as an orphanage, Medina House, for non-Muslim parents who were unable to look after their children and agreed for them to be brought up as Muslims.
Abdullah Quilliam published The Crescent, a weekly account of Muslims in Britain, and Islamic World, a monthly publication with a worldwide audience.
In 1890, Abdullah Quilliam orchestrated protests against the showing of Hall Caine's play, Mahomet.
Abdullah Quilliam travelled extensively and received many honours from the leaders of the Islamic world.
Abdullah Quilliam had contact with English-speaking West African Muslims and toured the region's coastal cities on his way to Lagos to attend the consecration of the Shitta Bey Mosque in 1894.
Abdullah Quilliam spent much of his time at Onchan on the Isle of Man.
Abdullah Quilliam died in Taviton Street, Bloomsbury, London in 1932, and was buried in an unmarked grave at Brookwood Cemetery near Woking.
Abdullah Quilliam argued that Muslims should not "take up arms" against other Muslims on the behalf of non-Muslims.
Abdullah Quilliam's legacy is principally maintained by the Abdullah Quilliam Society, which was founded in 1996.