George Champagné

Born in 1751 into a family of French Huguenot exiles who established themselves in Ireland, Champagné was one of ten children. His family had ended up in Ireland as a result of being in William of Orange’s army after fleeing France for Holland. Champagné himself got his degree at Trinity College, Dublin. Between 1777 and 1818, he served as the Vicars of Stoke, Nuneaton, and then Twickenham. Between 1802 and 1828, he was the Canon of Windsor. In 1818, he gave the Dean and Canons some shares in the South Sea Company to be used as an endowment to purchase clothes or books amongst the pupils of the National School at Windsor. The endowment is still awarded and is known as the Champagne Gift. In 1818, he gave the Dean and Canons some shares in the South Sea Company to be used as an endowment to purchase clothes or books amongst the pupils of the National School at Windsor. The endowment is still awarded and is known as the Champagne Gift. Champagné died in 1828, and his donation to King’s was post mortem.