[1] He was born at Stapleford, Cambridgeshire and died at East Molesey, Surrey.
[2] As a cricketer, he played in the Eton v Harrow match in both 1849 and 1850 and made his first-class debut for a Gentlemen of England team in August 1850, taking four wickets in the game.
[1] He reappeared for the Gentlemen of England in a single match in 1852, but then disappeared from senior cricket for five years.
[1] In 1852, having left Cambridge, Prest bought himself into the army, joining the 6th Regiment of Foot as an ensign and being promoted the following year to lieutenant.
[1] Prest's brother Edward also played first-class cricket and appeared for Cambridge University in 1850, the year before William did.