Family and Education

b. c.1538, 1st s. of John Champernown by Katherine, da. of William Blount, 4th Lord Mountjoy. educ. Pembroke, Camb. 1551. m. Catherine, da. of Sir Richard Edgecombe of Mount Edgcumbe, Cornw., 2s. inc. Richard 4da. suc. fa. 1541, gd.-fa. 1545.

Offices Held

J.p. Devon from c.1561.

Biography

Champernown was a soldier. He presumably owed his parliamentary seat to his uncle Sir Arthur Champernown. He left no mark on the known records of the House. Like his father, who had died at Vienna on his way home from Turkey, Champernown was widely travelled, fighting the Turks in Hungary, and sending intelligence reports to Cecil from the Continent in 1567. In September 1568 he put his affairs in order and left England for the last time. In November he sent military and political information to Leicester and Cecil from France. He was killed fighting for the Huguenots, according to a letter from St. Simon to Cecil, ‘greatly honoured and esteemed by the whole army down to the day of his death’, 28 May 1570. In June the Queen of Navarre wrote to Queen Elizabeth asking her to help the widow and children. Champernown appointed his aunt’s husband Roger Buttockshide (thrice MP for Plymouth), Christopher Chudleigh and Sir Arthur Champernown trustees for his estates. He spoke of ‘the natural love’ which he bore to Sir Arthur, whose heirs were to have his lands failing his own male line. He appointed his wife sole executrix of his will, made October 1568 and proved 1570. An inquisition post mortem was held 4 Oct. 1570.

Vivian, Vis. Devon, 163-5; Roberts thesis; C142/180/25; Trans. Dev. Assoc. xix. 453-4; Devon RO, Tingey 1144; CSP For. 1566-8, pp. 169, 578; 1569-71, pp. 27, 126, 131, 278, 287; HMC Pepys, 136-7; Wards 7/13/55, 56; PCC 33 Lyon.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: P. W. Hasler

Notes