Debenhams was founded in 1778, by William Clark as a single store in London. In 1813, when William Debenham became a partner, the company’s name changed to Clark & Debenham. By 1977, the business had rebranded itself to Debenhams. Debenhams grew into a multinational retailer with hundreds of department stores in the UK and Denmark, along with franchise stores in several other countries globally that operate under license to use the brand.