William Davy

Reverend William Davy (1743–1826), was an English clergyman and author.

Early life Davy was born 4 March 1743 in the parish of Tavistock, before moving as an infant to Hennock. He was educated at the Exeter Grammar School.

Davy graduated with a B.A. from Balliol College, Oxford in 1766, aged just 18, and was ordained and assigned to the parish of Moretonhampstead. He was subsequently moved to the nearby parish of Drewsteignton where parishoners objected to his preaching to the Bishop.

He undertook every part of the printing process, with the help of his servant Mary Hole who acted as typist,

A posthumous abridged version of his System of divinity was published in 1827 by Reverend C Davy of Exeter, but also failed to gain any traction.

He returned to be vicar of Winkleigh, Devonshire in 1825, but lasted only five months before his death in 1826.

Legacy Funds from his estate were endowed in the Davy Trust, later the Church Charity and School Sharity of the Reverend William Davy, which provided educational grants, latterly for gap year opportunities. The charitable objective was "TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL OR BIENNIAL BURSARY TO SUPPORT A LUSTLEIGH YOUNG PERSON WHO IS ABOUT TO LEAVE SCHOOL AND WISHES TO SPEND A YEAR BEFORE GOING TO UNIVERSITY OR ENTERING EMPLOYMENT, IN THE UNDERTAKING OF A TASK - EITHER AT HOME OR OVERSEAS - TO HELP THE DISADVANTAGED. THE TASK WOULD BE EXPECTED TO BE SOCIALLY, MEDICALLY OR RELIGIOUSLY ORIENTATED BUT ALSO TO HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL CONTENT DESIGNED TO ADVANCE THE LEARNING OF THE BURSARY HOLDER."