Mr William Edward Morris was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England in 1889 and his birth was registered in the second quarter of that year. 

He was the son of Salisbury-natives Alfred Morris (1835-1914) and Jane Sheppard (1847-?) who began their family Salisbury before moving to Southampton where they married in 1877. His father would be described invariably on different census reports as a dock labourer or general labourer and later as a mess man in the merchant service. His mother, by the time of the 1911 census, was working as a "monthly nurse," that is, a post-partum nurse.

William was, as per the 1911 census(1), one of nine children, his siblings being: Herbert (b. 1872), Elizabeth (b. 1874), Alfred (b. 1877), Louisa Jane (b. 1879), Rosina (b. 1882), George William (1885-1885) and Wilfrid Louis (1893-1893). Another unidentified sibling apparently died in infancy. 

William would apparently live at 5 Marine Parade, Southampton all his life as per the 1891-1911 census returns. Prior to his birth and on the 1881 census, his family were living at 13 Marine Parade. By the time of the 1911 census William was described as an unmarried seaman in the merchant service. 

When Morris signed on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912, he gave his address as 5 Marine Parade, Southampton. His previous ship had been the Olympic and as a trimmer he could expect monthly wages of £5, 10s.

William Morris died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

His father died two years later in 1914 whilst his mother died a decade later in 1924.