In 1696, he succeeded to the family estate on the death of his elder brother. He matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford on 2 March 1702, aged 18.[2] He married as his first wife Elizabeth Courtenay daughter of Francis Courtenay of Powderham, Devon.
Champernowne' wife died in 1717 and he died on 27 April 1717 after marrying as his second wife Susannah the twice widowed daughter of John Kelland a previous MP for Totnes. He left two sons and a daughter by his first wife.