William Stanley Goddard

William Stanley Goddard (1757-1845) attended Win Coll as a Quirister (1769), Scholar (1771), later serving as Second Master (1784) and Headmaster (1793-1809).  While Second Master, Goddard was a victim of the 1793 Rebellion, being held prisoner and barricaded with Warden Huntingford.  The Headmaster, Joseph Wharton, resigned following the rebellion and Goddard, who had retained the respect of the pupils, was appointed in his place.

During Goddard’s time as Headmaster, the school grew rapidly: prior to 1793, commoner numbers had dropped below 50; but by 1796 there were 75; and by 1804, more than 130.  These increases would have compensated for the gaps in College, from where 36 scholars are reported to have been ‘removed for rebellion’ in April 1793.

Despite a still-rebellious school (these were rebellious times: in France, Louis XVI had been executed in January 1793), Goddard set about winning over the pupils with sound scholarship, firm discipline and a sensitivity towards them that had been lacking in 1793.  This sensitivity is reflected in an act of generosity in his later life, for which Goddard is remembered through the Goddard Legacy Society. 

Contrary to the Founder’s Statutes, each scholar was being charged £10 each year towards their dons' upkeep.  Although disguised as a voluntary gratuity, all scholars felt obliged to pay this sum.  To remove this iniquity, Goddard gave an amount estimated at £25,000 (c£2.6m today) to cover the £700 annual cost to the scholars, making him probably the most generous benefactor to the College at that time since William of Wykeham.