Alexander Champion
Encyclopedia
Brigadier-General Alexander Champion (died 15 March 1793) was Commander-in-Chief, India
.
in 1768. He rose through the ranks and was appointed Commander-in-Chief, India
in January 1774. On 23 April 1774 Champion defeated the Rohilla
s (Afghan Highlanders) at Miranpur Katra
, killing their leader, Hafiz Rahmat Khan
, and ending the Rohilla War
.
Champion remained in office until November 1774. He retired to Hatchlands Park
near Guildford
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.'
Commander-in-Chief, India
During the period of the British Raj, the Commander-in-Chief, India was the supreme commander of the Indian Army. The Commander-in-Chief and most of his staff were based at General Headquarters, India, and liaised with the civilian Governor-General of India...
.
Military career
Champion was commissioned into service for the British East India CompanyEast India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
in 1768. He rose through the ranks and was appointed Commander-in-Chief, India
Commander-in-Chief, India
During the period of the British Raj, the Commander-in-Chief, India was the supreme commander of the Indian Army. The Commander-in-Chief and most of his staff were based at General Headquarters, India, and liaised with the civilian Governor-General of India...
in January 1774. On 23 April 1774 Champion defeated the Rohilla
Rohilla
The Rohilla are a community of Hindi-speaking Pashtun also known as Pathan, historically found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in North India. Most are now also found in Pakistan where they are now part of the Mohajir community. At one time, they form one of the largest Pashtun diaspora community...
s (Afghan Highlanders) at Miranpur Katra
Miranpur
Miranpur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Muzaffarnagar district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Miranpur is a noted for a temple of Jainism's twentieth Thirthankar Munisuvrata.-Demographics:...
, killing their leader, Hafiz Rahmat Khan
Hafiz Rahmat Khan
Hafiz Rahmat Khan was Regent of Rohilkhand in North India, from 1749 to 1774. He was a Pashtun by background, ruling over Rohillas ....
, and ending the Rohilla War
Rohilla War
The First Rohilla War of 1773-1774 was a punitive campaign by Shuja-ud-Daula, Nawab of Awadh, against the Rohillas, Afghan highlanders settled in Rohilkhand, northern India...
.
Champion remained in office until November 1774. He retired to Hatchlands Park
Hatchlands Park
Hatchlands Park is a red-brick country house with surrounding gardens in East Clandon, Surrey, England covering 170 hectares . It is located near Guildford along the A246 between West Clandon and West Horsley.-History:...
near Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
and died at Bath on 15 March 1793: there is a monument to him in Bath Abbey
Bath Abbey
The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Bath, commonly known as Bath Abbey, is an Anglican parish church and a former Benedictine monastery in Bath, Somerset, England...
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.'