William Garnett (cricketer)

William Bishton Garnett (27 June 1816 – 11 January 1903) was an English first-class cricketer and clergyman.

The son of The Reverend William Garnett senior, he was born at Nantwich in June 1817. He was educated at Shrewsbury School,[1] before matriculating at Brasenose College, Oxford in 1835, graduating B.A. in 1840 and M.A. in 1853.[2] While studying at Oxford, he made a single appearance in first-class cricket for Oxford University against the Marylebone Cricket Club at Oxford in 1839.[3] Batting twice in the match, Garnett was dismissed for 10 runs by William Bonsey in the Oxford first-innings, while in their second-innings he was dismissed for 12 runs by James Cobbett.[4] Garnett was also a member of the Oxford University Boat Club and was a cox for the Oxford team in the 1840 Boat Race.[1]

After graduating from Oxford, Garnett took holy orders in the Church of England, becoming a preacher at Bunbury from 1853–63, and was later a justice of the peace for both Montgomeryshire and Shropshire.[1] He changed his name by royal license to William Bishton Garnett Botfield in 1863, following the death of his cousin Beriah Botfield who had died without issue.[5] Garnett died at Shifnal in January 1903.