William Townshend (cricketer)

William Townshend (16 November 1849 – 19 July 1923) was an English first-class cricketer and clergyman.

The son of Edward Dupré Townshend, he was born in British India at Sehore in November 1849.[1] He was educated in England at Rossall School,[2] before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford where he graduated B.A. in 1872 and M.A. in 1879.[1]

While studying at Oxford, he made his debut in first-class cricket for Oxford University against the Gentlemen of England at Oxford in 1870. He played first-class cricket for Oxford until 1872, making fourteen appearances.[3] He scored a total of 399 runs in his fourteen matches for Oxford, averaging 15.96 and making a high score of 55.[4] He somewhat failed to live up the batting reputation he had gained at Rossall School, where he was considered the second best batsman at the school after F. W. Wright.[2]

He later played first-class cricket in 1874, appearing in two matches, making an appearance each for the Gentlemen of England and the Marylebone Cricket Club.[3] He played county cricket for Cheshire, Denbighshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire and Shropshire (appearing for two matches for the latter in 1869).[5]

After leaving Oxford he became a priest in the Church of England.[1] He was the rector of Thurlaston in Leicestershire in 1880.[1] Townshend died in Leicestershire at Kirkby Mallory in July 1923.