Christopher Codrington
Encyclopedia
Christopher Codrington British
soldier, bibliophile and colonial governor, was born on the island of Barbados
, West Indies, in 1668. His father, also named Christopher Codrington, was captain-general of the Leeward Islands
.
Educated at Christ Church, Oxford
, he was elected a fellow of All Souls
, and subsequently served with the British forces in Flanders
, being rewarded in 1695 with a captaincy in the Guards. In the same year he attended King William III
on his visit to Oxford, and, in the absence of the public orator, was chosen to deliver the University oration.
In 1698, on the death of his father, he was appointed captain-general and commander-in-chief of the Leeward Isles. In 1703, he commanded an unsuccessful British expedition
against Guadeloupe
. After this he resigned his governorship, and spent the rest of his life in retirement and study on his Barbados estates.
Codrington died on 7 April 1710, bequeathing his slave plantation
s to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts for the foundation of a college in Barbados. This college, known as the Codrington College
, was built in 1714-1742. To All Souls College, Oxford
, he bequeathed £6000 to pay for the building of a the Codrington Library
, with a further gift of £4000 to be laid out on books. His own collection of some 10000 volumes was also bequeathed to the college. Codrington's will and the sentiments expressed in a sermon preached at his funeral by William Gordon revealed a deep and practical piety, tied to a desire to improve the moral and physical health of both the white and black inhabitants of the Caribbean colonies. Under the direction of the SPG, Codrington College opened in 1745, though its activities were initially limited to the schooling of white settlers.
Attribution
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
soldier, bibliophile and colonial governor, was born on the island of Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, West Indies, in 1668. His father, also named Christopher Codrington, was captain-general of the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
.
Educated at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, he was elected a fellow of All Souls
All Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
, and subsequently served with the British forces in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, being rewarded in 1695 with a captaincy in the Guards. In the same year he attended King William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
on his visit to Oxford, and, in the absence of the public orator, was chosen to deliver the University oration.
In 1698, on the death of his father, he was appointed captain-general and commander-in-chief of the Leeward Isles. In 1703, he commanded an unsuccessful British expedition
Siege of Guadeloupe
The 1703 Siege of Guadeloupe was a failed attempt by English forces led by Christopher Codrington to capture the French isle of Guadeloupe during the War of the Spanish Succession. A vigorous defense by Guadeloupe's governor, Charles Auger, reinforcements he received from Martinique, and a...
against Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
. After this he resigned his governorship, and spent the rest of his life in retirement and study on his Barbados estates.
Codrington died on 7 April 1710, bequeathing his slave plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
s to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts for the foundation of a college in Barbados. This college, known as the Codrington College
Codrington College
Codrington College is an Anglican theological college in St. John, Barbados. It was founded by Christopher Codrington, who after his death in 1710 left portions of his 'estates' - two slave labour plantations on Barbados and areas of Barbuda - to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in...
, was built in 1714-1742. To All Souls College, Oxford
All Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
, he bequeathed £6000 to pay for the building of a the Codrington Library
Codrington Library
The Codrington Library is a library in All Souls College, one of the colleges forming part of Oxford University in England.The library was founded through a bequest by Christopher Codrington , a Fellow of the College. Codrington bequeathed books worth £6,000 and £10,000 in money, which allowed the...
, with a further gift of £4000 to be laid out on books. His own collection of some 10000 volumes was also bequeathed to the college. Codrington's will and the sentiments expressed in a sermon preached at his funeral by William Gordon revealed a deep and practical piety, tied to a desire to improve the moral and physical health of both the white and black inhabitants of the Caribbean colonies. Under the direction of the SPG, Codrington College opened in 1745, though its activities were initially limited to the schooling of white settlers.
Attribution