Francis Quinton

Brigadier-General Francis William Drummond Quinton (27 November 1865 — 5 December 1926) was an English first-class cricketer and an officer in the British Army.

Early military service and cricket The son of the colonial administrator James Wallace Quinton, he was born in British India at Faizabad in November 1865. He was educated in England at Marlborough College, where he represented the college at rackets and played for the cricket eleven. From there, he attended the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich and graduated from there in as a second lieutenant into the Royal Artillery (RA) in September 1885. Earlier in 1885, he had made his debut in first-class cricket for C. I. Thornton's England XI against Cambridge University, having previously played minor matches for Devon prior to the formation of the present day county club. In 1892, while playing regimental cricket, he scored 216 not out in a match for the RA against the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. With his underarm slow bowling, he took 30 wickets at a bowling average of 28.50; he took one five wicket haul of 5 for 93.

Later military service and life In the RA, Quinton was promoted to captain in February 1896, and was appointed to the RMA as an instructor in April of the same year. He was promoted to major in November 1900, with promotion to lieutenant colonel following over a decade later in November 1912. Serving in the First World War, he was seconded for service on the staff in June 1915, before being appointed a temporary brigadier-general whilst assuming a command in June 1917. Having spent part of the war serving in British India, where he held a command. As a result, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in September 1919, following the war. Quinton retired from active service in May 1920, at which point he was given the honorary rank of brigadier-general.

In December 1922, his younger brother, James (a schoolmaster and cricketer), committed suicide. In the lead up to his suicide, his brother had written a note to him asking him to travel to London to meet him at Charing Cross; however, he did not receive in time to meet, but did send him a telegram telling him not to do anything until he had seen him. He subsequently gave evidence at the inquest into his death. Quinton died at Marylebone in December 1926.