Alexander Champion (East India Company officer)

Last updated
Alexander Champion
Died15 March 1793
AllegianceUnion flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch British Army
Rank Brigadier General
Commands held Indian Army
Battles/wars Rohilla War

Brigadier-General Alexander Champion (died 15 March 1793) was Commander-in-Chief, India.

Contents

Military career

Champion was commissioned into service for the British East India Company in 1768. [1] He rose through the ranks and was appointed Commander-in-Chief, India in January 1774. [2] On 23 April 1774 Champion defeated the Rohillas (Afghan Highlanders) at Miranpur Katra, killing their leader, Hafiz Rahmat Khan, and ending the Rohilla War. [3]

Champion remained in office until November 1774. [2] He retired to Hatchlands Park near Guildford [4] and died at Bath on 15 March 1793: there is a monument to him in Bath Abbey by Nollekens, which says, 'he rose, in the course of twenty years' active service in India, to the chief command of the company's troops in Bengal.' [5]

Memorial to Alexander Champion Colonel Alexander Champion.jpg
Memorial to Alexander Champion

Family

On 11 February 1759 Champion married Miss Francis Nynd. [6] Whilst in India he lived with Johanna Barr of Calcutta and left her a house and goods in trust for her natural children Ganny Cummings and Alexander Champion. [7]

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References

Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, India
1774
Succeeded by