Christopher Codrington was a British soldier and colonial governor, whose father was captain-general of the Leeward Isles, he was born in the island of Barbados, in 1668. Educated at Christ Church, Oxford, he was elected a fellow of All Souls.

In 1697, on the death of his father, he was appointed captain-general and commander-in-chief of the Leeward Isles.

He died on the 7th of April 1710, bequeathing these estates to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts for the foundation of a college in Barbados. This college, known as the Codrington college, was built in 1714-1742. To All Souls College, Oxford, he bequeathed books worth 6000 and 10,000 in money, out of which was built and endowed the Codrington library there.