William Henry Townsend (17 February 1821 – 26 February 1891) was an English first-class cricketer and barrister.
The son of Robert Townsend, he was born at Mansfield in February 1821. He later studied at Lincoln College, Oxford where he played first-class cricket for Oxford University. He made his first-class debut against Cambridge University in The University Match of 1842. He made three further first-class appearances for Oxford, making a further appearance in 1842 and two appearances in 1843. His four first-class wickets all came in one match, against the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1842 at Lord's. A student of Lincoln's Inn, he was called to the bar as a barrister in November 1847. Townsend died at Dulwich in February 1891.