Francis Walton

Francis Walton (1832 – 14 July 1871) was an English first-class cricketer and Royal Marines officer.

Walton was born in England in 1832. Walton was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Marines in February 1849.[1] He served in the Crimean War, for which he was later decorated by the Ottoman Empire in April 1858 with the Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class.[2] Following the war, he gained promotion to first lieutenant in January 1853.[3] A further promotion to captain followed in December 1860,[4] before being appointed an adjutant in the 48th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps in September 1863.[5] Walton played first-class cricket for Hampshire, debuting in the 1864 season against Middlesex at Islington. He made two further first-class appearances, in 1865 against Middlesex at Islington, and the Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord's in 1866.[6] He scored 55 runs in his three first-class matches with a highest score of 16,[7] while with his right-arm roundarm fast bowling, he took 6 wickets at an average of 27.50, with best figures of 3 for 48.[8] In the mid-1860s, Walton was in a business partnership with Thomas Linklater Thomson as sailmakers and ship chandlers at Wapping, though by March 1867 the partnership had been dissolved by mutual consent.[9] Walton died at his brother's residence in Surbiton on 14 July 1871.[10]