William Baldock (Hampshire cricketer)

William Stanford Baldock JP (20 January 1847 – 30 August 1923) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.

The son of the cricketer William Baldock senior, he was born in January 1847 at Chilworth, Hampshire. He was educated at Winchester College,[1] before attending the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He graduated from there into the Royal Artillery (RA) as a lieutenant in January 1868.[2] Baldock made his debut in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Derbyshire at Southampton in 1877, with him making a further two appearances in that season, followed up by two more appearances in 1878.[3] In the RA, he was promoted to captain in July 1879.[4] He would make two further appearances in first-class cricket for Hampshire, in 1880 against Sussex and 1882 against the Marylebone Cricket Club.[3] In his seven matches for Hampshire, Baldock scored 155 runs at an average of 12.91, with a highest score of 41.[5] He was promoted to major in the RA in January 1885,[6] before being promoted to lieutenant colonel in January 1892.[7] Shortly thereafter, he retired from active service.[8]

In later life, Baldock was a justice of the peace for Somerset.[9] He died on 30 August 1923 at his residence in Wellington, Somerset.[10] He was married in 1898 to Mary Elworthy, daughter of Frederick Thomas Elworthy,[11] with their son William Baldock junior playing first-class cricket for Somerset. There were two other sons, Frank and Thomas Arthur.[12]