William Capon

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William Capon was born at Salcott, near Colchester in Essex in 1480. He was educated at Cambridge University, earning his B.A. degree in 1499 and his M.A. in 1502 (at the age of 22). In 1516 he became a Master of Jesus College and in 1526, aged 46, he was appointed Rector of St Mary’s church in Southampton and subsequently also Rector of North Stoneham. In 1546, aged 66, William resigned from his job at Jesus College and went to live in Southampton. At the time, there was a chantry, or grammar school in St Mary’s. These chantries were responsible for much of the little education in the town. However, in 1548, the Chantries Act abolished the grammar schools and Capon believed that this was a severe blow to education. So in his will he provided £100 towards the "erection, maynetenance and fyndinge of a gramer scole" in Southampton. But it was not until 1553, three years after Capon’s death in 1550, that this wish was fulfilled and King Edward VI School, Southampton, was founded.