Capon was born at
Salcott, near
Colchester in
Essex in 1480; he was educated at
Cambridge University, graduating B.A. in 1499 and M.A. in 1502 (at the age of 22). In 1516 he became a
Master of
Jesus College, Cambridge and in 1526, aged 46, he was appointed Rector of
St. Mary's Church in
Southampton and subsequently also Rector of
St. Mary's Church, South Stoneham. In 1546, aged 66, William resigned from his post at Jesus College and went to live in Southampton. At the time, there was a
chantry grammar school in St Mary's. These chantries were responsible for much of the little education in the town, but in 1548 the
Chantries Act abolished the grammar schools. 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. 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 by
Royal Charter. His name lives on as the name of one of the
houses at the school, named after him. His brother
John Capon Bishop of Salisbury served under
Henry VIII,
Edward VI and was one of the bishops commissioned by
Mary I to persecute Protestant 'heretics'. ==References==