William Townshend

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. He was educated in England at Rossall School, before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford where he graduated B.A. in 1872 and M.A. in 1879. He scored a total of 399 runs in his fourteen matches for Oxford, averaging 15.96 and making a high score of 55. 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.

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