William Chafy (7 February 1779 – 16 May 1843) served as Master of

Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge Sidney Sussex College (referred to informally as "Sidney") is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England. The College was founded in 1596 under the terms of the will of Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex (1531–1589), wife ...

from 1813 until his death. Chafy was the eldest son of William Chafy, minor canon of

Canterbury Cathedral Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England. It forms part of a World Heritage Site. It is the cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury, currently Justin Welby, leader of the ...

, by Mary, the only daughter of John Chafie of Sherborne, Dorsetshire. He was born on 7 February 1779 in Canterbury, and educated at The King's School, Canterbury. He entered

Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Corpus Christi College (full name: "The College of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary", often shortened to "Corpus"), is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. From the late 14th century through to the early 19th century ...

, on 1 January 1796, migrating to

on 18 October of the same year. He graduated B.A. 1800, M.A. 1803, B.D. 1810, D.D. (by royal mandate) 15 Nov. 1813. He was elected fellow of Sidney Sussex on 4 June 1801, was ordained deacon in 1801 and priest in 1803. He also became curate of

Gillingham, Kent Gillingham ( ) is a large town in the unitary authority area of Medway in the ceremonial county of Kent, England. The town forms a conurbation with neighbouring towns Chatham, Rochester, Strood and Rainham. It is also the largest town in the ...

in 1801. On 17 October 1813 he was elected master of Sidney Sussex, and held that office until his death. During his mastership the college was refaced at his expense; many of his books were also presented by him to the college library. In 1813, and again in 1829, he was vice-chancellor of the university. He was also chaplain in ordinary to

George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two kingdoms on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Br ...

George IV George IV (George Augustus Frederick; 12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from the death of his father, King George III, on 29 January 1820, until his own death ten y ...

, William IV, and

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

. He died at Cambridge 16 May 1843, and was buried in the chapel of his college. Dr. Chafy married, on 4 December 1813, Mary, youngest daughter of John Westwood of

Chatteris Chatteris is a market town and civil parish in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire, England, situated in The Fens between Huntingdon, March and Ely. The town is in the North East Cambridgeshire parliamentary constituency. The parish of C ...

in the Isle of Ely, by whom he had one child, a son, William Westwood Chafy.

References

1779 births 1843 deaths People from Canterbury People educated at The King's School, Canterbury Alumni of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Alumni of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge Chaplains-in-Ordinary Masters of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge Vice-Chancellors of the University of Cambridge {{England-academic-bio-stub