1. William Thomas Napier Champ was a soldier and politician who served as the first Premier of Tasmania from 1856 to 1857.
14 Facts About William Champ
1. 2.
Champ, the son of Captain Thomas Champ and his wife Mary Anne nee Blackaller, was born in Maldon, Essex, England.
3.
William Champ joined the army as an ensign when he was 18 years old and later became an adjutant.
4.
William Champ was serving with the 63rd Regiment of Foot as an ensign by 1826 and was posted with them to Sydney, New South Wales in October 1828.
5.
Some regiment was detached as a garrison force for the Macquarie Harbour Penal Station, Van Diemens Land in 1829, and William Champ was amongst them.
6.
The 63rd left New South Wales and Van Diemens Land in 1834 to deploy to India and Burma and William Champ left with the regiment.
7.
William Champ then became an assistant police magistrate, before being appointed as the commandant of Port Arthur penitentiary in 1844.
8.
In 1852, William Champ became a colonial secretary to Governor Denison.
9.
William Champ was elected as the member for Launceston in the new House of Assembly and became the first Premier of the responsible government on 1 November 1856.
10.
William Champ held office of premier for 117 days, until 26 February 1857.
11.
William Champ was briefly the opposition leader in 1857 but resigned shortly after.
12.
William Champ left Tasmania and became inspector-general of penal establishments in Victoria.
13.
William Champ later entered politics in Victoria, becoming a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for East Bourke Boroughs from April 1871 until May 1873.
14.
William Champ died in Melbourne, Victoria on 25 August 1892.