William de Crespigny

Sir William Champion de Crespigny, 2nd Baronet (1 January 1765 – 28 December 1829) was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1818 and 1826.

Early life

Crespigny was born on 1 January 1765. His paternal grandfather was Philip Champion de Crespigny, proctor of the Admiralty court. The Champion de Crespigny family originated in Normandy, France. Among his extended family was uncle Philip Champion de Crespigny, and cousin, Thomas Champion de Crespigny, who both served in Parliament.

He educated at Eton College from 1777 to 1780 and at Trinity College, Cambridge from 1783 to 1786, when he received his LLB degree. While in the House, he "presented petitions urging government to address agricultural distress", "spoke in support of the enfranchisement of Leeds", "presented a London merchants' petition demanding better protection from foreign competition and attacking the East India Company's monopoly, the level of military expenditure and the corn laws", and "endorsed a petition against the 'obnoxious' Irish window tax and demanded its abolition both there and in England" in 1822. William Other Robert Champion de Crespigny (1789–1816), an officer in the Royal Navy who died while on active service in 1816. he married Caroline Smijth, daughter of Sir William Smijth, 7th Baronet, in 1817. Sarah Champion de Crespigny (1792–1805), who died in youth. Sir William died on 28 December 1829.