Timothy Duke

Timothy Duke (29 October 1799 – 25 May 1858) was an English businessman and cricketer who was a member of the family which established Dukes, the manufacturer of cricket balls. He played five matches for Kent between 1823 and 1828.

Duke was born at Penshurst in Kent in 1799, the son of Timothy and Sarah Due (née Jeffery). His father ran the cricket ball manufacturing business, established in 1760 and at the time operating from a series of small-scale workshops as a cottage industry. After taking over the business from his father, Duke significantly developed the business, extending it to develop the manufacturing of cricket equipment, including pads and gloves, as well as partnering with a bat maker Luke Eade. By the time Duke retired, the company employed more than 80 workers.

Duke's father had played, and in his second match for Kent Duke took seven Sussex wickets at Brighton in 1825.