William Mills (cricketer)

William Mills (3 June 1820 – 22 September 1877) was an English lawyer and cricketer who played in first-class cricket matches for Cambridge University, Cambridge Town Club, Marylebone Cricket Club and the Gentlemen of England.^[1] He was born in Westminster and died at St John's Wood, both in London.

Mills was educated at Harrow School and at St John's College, Cambridge.^[2] Mills captained Harrow at cricket in 1839, but with him batting the middle order and apparently not bowling, the Eton v Harrow match was lost badly.^[3] At Cambridge University, his batting was less crucial and he often batted lower in the innings, but he made a particular impression as a bowler: because the lack of full scorecards during Mills' career, most of his precise match figures are not known and it is not known whether he batted or bowled right-handed or left-handed, nor whether he was fast or slow.^[1] He took five wickets in an innings against Cambridge Town Club in 1842, and four wickets in an innings in other matches.^[4] He played in the University Match against Oxford University in the four seasons from 1840 to 1843, and played for MCC in occasional games from 1842 to 1844.^[1]

After graduating from Cambridge University in 1843 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Mills became a barrister studying at the Inner Temple and was called to the bar in 1847.^[2] He practised on the South Wales and Chester Circuit and then worked for the Law Reports and authored legal books.^[2]

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