Alexander Champion (snr)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Champion was a London based merchant who was in business in the eighteenth century, trading to many parts of the world, with a number of partners over the years.
Alexander was born around 1725, the son of another Alexander Champion and his wife Mary. His ancestors came to London from Berkshire
in the early eighteenth century. He was the father of another Alexander Champion
(a businessman) who succeeded him in both business and whaling
and Boston
in particular. In 1773, they are said to have sent the tea cargoes that were dumped in Boston Harbour in the Boston Tea Party
.
. Samuel Enderby, his partner, therefore elected to pursue the whaling trade in the South Atlantic. Samuel Enderby founded the Samuel Enderby & Sons
company the following year, when he and his business partners Alexander Champion and John St. Barbe assembled a fleet of twelve whaling vessels on the Greenwich Peninsula
, in the London Borough of Greenwich
.
In 1778, Alexander Champion was listed as an underwriter in Lloyd’s Register. He retired in 1789. He died on 28 April 1795 at his home in Walthamstow
, Essex.
I. Alexander Champion (businessman)
was born on 11 November 1751 and died on 6 April 1809
II. Benjamin was born in 1753. He was a merchant, resident of New Broad Street, London, when he died on 13 June 1817
III. Samuel was a merchant also resident in New Broad Street, London and also died in 1817
IV. William was resident of Walthamstow
, Essex, at the time of his death in 1819
V. James
VI. Thomas served in the Honourable United East India Company
at Bombay and was resident in London at his death in 1796
I. Mary
His second wife was possibly Sarah Fuller whom he married on 6 April 1771 at St Martin Outwich
, London. She died after May 1777.
Alexander was born around 1725, the son of another Alexander Champion and his wife Mary. His ancestors came to London from Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
in the early eighteenth century. He was the father of another Alexander Champion
Alexander Champion (businessman)
Alexander Champion was a London based merchant and was active as a whaler in the late 18th century.Alexander Champion was born on 11 Nov 1751, the son of another Alexander Champion who was considered to be the father of British Whaling...
(a businessman) who succeeded him in both business and whaling
A London-based merchant
In 1742, he was taken on as partner in Samuel Storke’s firm and headed up the firm in 1753 when Samuel Storke died of a sudden stroke. The firm was based at Great Ayliffe Street, Goodman’s Field. In 1764, he left that firm and went into business with a new partner, Thomas Dickason, who was still his partner at the time of his death, at 117 Bishopsgate. Champion and Dickason had considerable trade with America and, it seems, Rhode IslandRhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in particular. In 1773, they are said to have sent the tea cargoes that were dumped in Boston Harbour in the Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a direct action by colonists in Boston, a town in the British colony of Massachusetts, against the British government and the monopolistic East India Company that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies...
.
The father of British whaling
Alexander Champion is credited as “the founder of British whaling” about 1775. An embargo had been placed on whale oil exports from New England in 1775, as a result of the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Samuel Enderby, his partner, therefore elected to pursue the whaling trade in the South Atlantic. Samuel Enderby founded the Samuel Enderby & Sons
Samuel Enderby & Sons
Samuel Enderby & Sons was a whaling and sealing company based in London, England, founded circa 1775 by Samuel Enderby . The company encouraged their captains to combine exploration with their business activities, and sponsored several of the earliest expeditions to the subantarctic, Southern Ocean...
company the following year, when he and his business partners Alexander Champion and John St. Barbe assembled a fleet of twelve whaling vessels on the Greenwich Peninsula
Greenwich Peninsula
Greenwich Peninsula is an area of South London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.The peninsula is bounded on three sides by a loop of the Thames, between the Isle of Dogs and Silvertown. To the south is the rest of Greenwich, to the south-east is Charlton.The peninsula lies...
, in the London Borough of Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
.
In 1778, Alexander Champion was listed as an underwriter in Lloyd’s Register. He retired in 1789. He died on 28 April 1795 at his home in Walthamstow
Walthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
, Essex.
Family
Alexander Champion had at least six sons and a daughter, as noted in his will, though there is no Christening record for them or record of their mother. It is not clear who his wife was.I. Alexander Champion (businessman)
Alexander Champion (businessman)
Alexander Champion was a London based merchant and was active as a whaler in the late 18th century.Alexander Champion was born on 11 Nov 1751, the son of another Alexander Champion who was considered to be the father of British Whaling...
was born on 11 November 1751 and died on 6 April 1809
II. Benjamin was born in 1753. He was a merchant, resident of New Broad Street, London, when he died on 13 June 1817
III. Samuel was a merchant also resident in New Broad Street, London and also died in 1817
IV. William was resident of Walthamstow
Walthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
, Essex, at the time of his death in 1819
V. James
VI. Thomas served in the Honourable United East India Company
East 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...
at Bombay and was resident in London at his death in 1796
I. Mary
His second wife was possibly Sarah Fuller whom he married on 6 April 1771 at St Martin Outwich
St Martin Outwich
St Martin Outwich was a medieval parish church in the City of London, on the corner of Threadneedle Street and Bishopsgate.-History:A church of St Martin was built in the fourteenth century at the expense of members of the Oteswich family, from whom the church derives its name...
, London. She died after May 1777.