Arthur Champion (Irish politician) facts for kids

Arthur Champion (died 23 October 1641) was an Anglo-Irish politician and landowner. He was killed during the early days of the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

Who Was Arthur Champion?

Arthur Champion was an important figure in Ireland during the 1600s. He was known for his business dealings and for owning land. He also played a role in politics. Sadly, his life ended during a major historical event, the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

Early Life and Business

We don't know much about Arthur Champion's early years. By the mid-1630s, he was a successful merchant in Dublin. A merchant is someone who buys and sells goods. Champion was involved in the cloth trade. He often traded with the city of Chester in England.

Besides trading, Champion also became a moneylender. This means he lent money to people. He even lent money to important figures like Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Burlington. This financial success helped him buy a lot of land.

Becoming a Landowner and Politician

By June 1639, Arthur Champion was living at Shannock in County Fermanagh. He was becoming a significant landowner. In 1639, he was given an important job. He became the High Sheriff of Fermanagh. A High Sheriff was a top official in a county. They were responsible for law and order.

The next year, he became a justice of the peace. This role meant he helped keep the peace and dealt with local legal matters. He also bought a large estate called Coole. In 1640, he was elected to the Irish House of Commons. This was part of the Irish Parliament. He represented the area of Enniskillen. However, records show he did not make any speeches. He also did not join any special committees.

The Irish Rebellion of 1641

On the morning of 23 October 1641, a terrible event happened. A group of Champion's Irish tenants arrived at his home in Shannock. They were acting on orders from Rory Maguire. They pretended they needed to see Champion in his role as a justice of the peace. When he appeared, they attacked him with knives. This was one of the very first acts of the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

Several of Champion's guests were also killed. These included Thomas Ironmonger, Humphrey Littlebury, and Christopher Lynas. The rebels would not allow their bodies to be buried for several weeks. News of these killings spread quickly across Ulster. This warning helped some Protestant settlers prepare to defend themselves.

His Legacy

Arthur Champion had married Alice Allen on 27 May 1621. Their wedding took place at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Dublin. At the time of his death, people owed him a large sum of money. This amount was £6,971. In his will, he left money to support services at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. This church is part of the Church of Ireland.