William Franks (cricketer)

William Franks (23 July 1820 – 8 February 1879) was an English first-class cricketer and barrister.

Franks was born at Hatfield in July 1820. He was educated at Harrow School, before going up to Trinity College, Cambridge. A student of the Inner Temple, he was called to the bar in 1846. Franks played first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club from 1845 to 1848, making seven appearances. He had little success in his seven matches, scoring 44 runs with a highest score of 16. Franks twice served the Marquess of Salisbury as his official private secretary at Hatfield House, in 1852 and 1858–9. He also served as both a deputy lieutenant and justice of the peace for Hertfordshire, in addition to being a captain in the Hertfordshire Militia. Franks died at St Leonards-on-Sea in February 1879, after suffering from a long illness.