William Swain (8 September 1827 – 5 October 1910) was an English first-class cricketer, businessman and inventor.
The son of William and Jane Swain, he was born in September 1830 at Burley, Yorkshire.
[2][3] During this time he coached the future King Edward VII, whose connections he would use to expand his business contacts.
[7] He was described by Scores and Biographies as a player who "bats in good style, is a nice field, either at point or long-stop".
Swain invented one of the first mechanical bowling machines in 1870, calling it a cricket battery.