William Champ facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Champ
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Official portrait, 1856
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| 1st Premier of Tasmania | |
| In office 1 November 1856 – 26 February 1857 |
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| Succeeded by | Thomas Gregson |
| Constituency | Launceston |
| 3rd Member for East Bourke Boroughs | |
| In office 1871–1873 |
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| Preceded by | Edward Cope |
| Succeeded by | George Higinbotham |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 April 1808 Maldon, Essex, England, UK |
| Died | 25 August 1892 (aged 84) Melbourne |
| Nationality |  British |
| Spouse | Helen Abigail Gibson |
| Children | Rosa Helen Champ, Kathrine (Katy) Champ, William Champ, Harry Champ |
| Profession | Soldier / Politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1826–1834 |
| Unit | 63rd Regiment of Foot |
William Thomas Napier Champ (born April 15, 1808 – died August 25, 1892) was an important figure in Australian history. He was a soldier and later became a politician. William Champ is best known for being the very first Premier of Tasmania. He held this top political job from 1856 to 1857. He was born in the United Kingdom.
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Champ's Early Life
William Champ was born in a town called Maldon in Essex, England. His father was Captain Thomas Champ. Young William went to a special military school called the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
When he was 18 years old, William joined the army. He started as an ensign, which was a junior officer rank. Later, he became an adjutant, a more senior officer who helps with army administration.
Army and Police Work
In 1826, Champ was an ensign with the 63rd Regiment of Foot. His army unit was sent to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in 1828. A part of his regiment was then moved to Van Diemens Land (which is now called Tasmania) in 1829. They were there to guard a prison called the Macquarie Harbour Penal Station. Champ was among these soldiers.
As a lieutenant, he was involved in a historical event in 1830. This was a time of conflict between the European settlers and the Tasmanian Aborigines.
In 1834, Champ's regiment left Australia to go to other countries. But William Champ liked Australia. So, he decided to leave the army and return to Van Diemens Land. He started working for the government. First, he was an assistant police magistrate. This meant he helped with local law and order.
Later, in 1844, he became the leader of the famous Port Arthur prison. This was a very important and challenging job.
Political Career
In 1852, William Champ took on a new role. He became the colonial secretary for Governor Denison. This was a high-ranking position in the government.
Tasmania's New Government
In the 1850s, the British government decided to give Tasmania more control over its own laws. This was called "responsible government." It meant that elected officials would make decisions, not just the Governor.
To do this, a new group of elected politicians was created. This group was called the Tasmanian House of Assembly. Before this, Champ was a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council. The Governor chose people for this council.
First Premier of Tasmania
The first elections for the new House of Assembly happened in 1856. William Champ was elected to represent the area of Launceston. On November 1, 1856, he made history. He became the very first Premier of Tasmania. This was like being the leader of the state's government.
Champ was Premier for a short time, about 117 days. His government faced some challenges and he was unable to continue leading. He then became the leader of the opposition for a brief period in 1857 before stepping down.
Later Political Life
After leaving Tasmania, William Champ moved to Victoria. There, he became an inspector for prisons. He also continued his political career in Victoria. From 1871 to 1873, he was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. He represented the area of East Bourke Boroughs.
William Champ passed away in Melbourne, Victoria, on August 25, 1892.
