Walter Thornton (cricketer)

Walter Alfred Thornton (23 February 1858 – 2 February 1915), born Walter Alfred Lee,[upper-alpha 1] was an English cricketer active in first-class cricket from 1879 to 1883.

Walter Thornton
Personal information
Full name
Walter Alfred Thornton
Born(1858-02-23)23 February 1858
Kensington, Middlesex, England
Died2 February 1915(1915-02-02) (aged 56)
Blakedown, Worcestershire, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast
RelationsRichard Thornton (grandfather)
Richard Lee (father)
Rev. Richard Thornton (brother)
Albert Thornton (brother)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1879–1882Oxford University
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 24
Runs scored 843
Batting average 18.73
100s/50s 0/4
Top score 70
Balls bowled 1,280
Wickets 27
Bowling average 20.77
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 4/29
Catches/stumpings 9/–
Source: Cricinfo, 16 September 2018

Born to Margaret James and Richard Napoleon Lee at Kensington, Middlesex, Thornton was the third of three brothers. Both his brothers, Richard and Albert played first-class cricket for Kent County Cricket Club.[3] He was educated at Winchester College,[4] where he played for the college cricket team between 1874 and 1876, captaining the team in his final year at school.[3] From Winchester he went up to St John's College, Oxford, where he made his debut in first-class cricket for Oxford University Cricket Club against the Gentlemen of England at the Magdalen Ground in 1879.[5]

Thornton played first-class cricket for the University until 1882, making 22 appearances.[5] He won an Oxford Blue for both cricket and billiards.[3] He made one first-class appearance each for the Marylebone Cricket Club and the Orleans Club in 1883.[5] Across 24 first-class matches, Thornton scored 843 runs with four half centuries and took 27 wickets, with best figures of 4/29.[6] He was made a lieutenant in the Devonshire Regiment in 1883.[7] He died at Blakedown, near Kidderminster, Worcestershire on 2 February 1915.[4] His grandfather was the millionaire Richard Thornton.

Notes
  1. Thornton's father was born Richard Lee and was the illegitimate son of Richard Thornton, one of the richest men of the 19th century. Lee changed his surname to Thornton in 1865 as a condition of his father's will.[1] Alumni Oxoniensis gives the birth name of Thornton and one of his brothers as Lee.[2]

References
  1. The London Gazette, 4 August 1865, quoted at Family of Richard Napoleon (Lee) Thornton and Margaret James, Attfield Family Tree. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
  2. Foster, Joseph (1888–1892). "Thornton, Walter Alfred" . Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886. Oxford: Parker and Co – via Wikisource.
  3. Ambrose, Don. "Brief profile of W.A.Thornton". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  4. "Wisden - Obituaries in 1915". ESPNcricinfo. 16 December 2005. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  5. "First-Class Matches played by Walter Thornton". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  6. "Player profile: Walter Thornton". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  7. "No. 25298". The London Gazette. 21 December 1883. p. 6578.
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