George Charles Champion
Encyclopedia
George Charles Champion (29 April 1851, Walworth
, South London – 8 August 1927) was an English
entomologist specialising in the study of beetles. He was the eldest son of George Champion.
Encouraged by J. Platt-Barret began collecting beetles when he was 16. Champion's initial work was mainly in the Home Counties
. Recognized as a serious coleopterist he accepted a post as collector for Frederick DuCane Godman
and Osbert Salvin
to work on Biologia Centrali-Americana
. Champion left England in February 1879 for Guatemala
, where he arrived on 16 March. Then commencing four years of journeys and intensive collecting, which are described in a series of articles he wrote to the Entomologists' Monthly Magazine. Successful as a collector, he returned to England in 1883 with 15,000 species of insects. A former businessman he was employed by Godman and Salvin as a secretary, and he saw through the press the 52 volumes of the Biologia
. Champion also prepared the Coleoptera sections for publication and wrote the volumes and parts covering the Heteromera
, the Elateridae and Dascillidae, the Cassidinae, and Curculionidae
. He described more than 4,000 species
new to science in this work.
He published 426 articles, some in Annals and Magazine of Natural History, which he also edited. Much of his work was with exotic Coleoptera, but he also wrote faunistic papers, mainly on beetles from Woking
, Surrey, where he lived.
Since 1871, he was a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of London
, and a member of the Entomological Society Council from 1875 to 1877. He was Librarian from 1891 to 1920, and appointed Vice President in 1925. He compiled the Catalogue and Supplement of the Library. He was a Fellow of the Linnean Society and of the Zoological Society of London
. He also helped to found the South London Entomological and Natural History Society .
. His specimens can be found in other major collections, such as the Hope Department of Entomology, Oxford.
Walworth, London
Walworth is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Southwark. Walworth probably derives its name from the Old English "Wealhworth" which meant Welsh farm. It is located south east of Charing Cross and near to Camberwell and Elephant and Castle.The major streets in Walworth are the Old...
, South London – 8 August 1927) was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
entomologist specialising in the study of beetles. He was the eldest son of George Champion.
Encouraged by J. Platt-Barret began collecting beetles when he was 16. Champion's initial work was mainly in the Home Counties
Home Counties
The home counties is a term which refers to the counties of South East England and the East of England which border London, but do not include the capital city itself...
. Recognized as a serious coleopterist he accepted a post as collector for Frederick DuCane Godman
Frederick DuCane Godman
Frederick DuCane Godman D.C.L., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.G.S., F.E.S., F.Z.S., M.R.I., F.R.H.S., M.B.O.U. was an English lepidopterist, entomologist and ornithologist....
and Osbert Salvin
Osbert Salvin
Osbert Salvin FRS was an English naturalist, best known for co-authoring Biologia Centrali-Americana with Frederick DuCane Godman. This was a 52 volume encyclopedia on the natural history of Central America....
to work on Biologia Centrali-Americana
Biologia Centrali-Americana
The Biologia Centrali-Americana is an encyclopedia of the natural history of Mexico and Central America, privately issued in 215 parts from 1879 to 1915 by the editors Frederick DuCane Godman and Osbert Salvin, of the British Museum in London.This work is still fundamental for the study of...
. Champion left England in February 1879 for Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, where he arrived on 16 March. Then commencing four years of journeys and intensive collecting, which are described in a series of articles he wrote to the Entomologists' Monthly Magazine. Successful as a collector, he returned to England in 1883 with 15,000 species of insects. A former businessman he was employed by Godman and Salvin as a secretary, and he saw through the press the 52 volumes of the Biologia
Biologia Centrali-Americana
The Biologia Centrali-Americana is an encyclopedia of the natural history of Mexico and Central America, privately issued in 215 parts from 1879 to 1915 by the editors Frederick DuCane Godman and Osbert Salvin, of the British Museum in London.This work is still fundamental for the study of...
. Champion also prepared the Coleoptera sections for publication and wrote the volumes and parts covering the Heteromera
Tenebrionoidea
Tenebrionoidea is a very large and diverse superfamily of beetles.It broadly corresponds to the 'Heteromera' of earlier authors.It contains the families:* Aderidae Winkler 1927 * Anthicidae Latreille 1819...
, the Elateridae and Dascillidae, the Cassidinae, and Curculionidae
Curculionidae
Curculionidae is the family of the "true" weevils . It was formerly recognized in 1998 as the largest of any animal family, with over 40,000 species described worldwide at that time...
. He described more than 4,000 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
new to science in this work.
He published 426 articles, some in Annals and Magazine of Natural History, which he also edited. Much of his work was with exotic Coleoptera, but he also wrote faunistic papers, mainly on beetles from Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
, Surrey, where he lived.
Since 1871, he was a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of London
Royal Entomological Society of London
The Royal Entomological Society of London is devoted to insect study. It has a major national and international role in disseminating information about insects and improving communication between entomologists....
, and a member of the Entomological Society Council from 1875 to 1877. He was Librarian from 1891 to 1920, and appointed Vice President in 1925. He compiled the Catalogue and Supplement of the Library. He was a Fellow of the Linnean Society and of the Zoological Society of London
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
. He also helped to found the South London Entomological and Natural History Society .
Collections
Champion’s beetle collection, including over 150,000 specimens and a very large number of types, is housed at the Natural History Museum, LondonNatural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
. His specimens can be found in other major collections, such as the Hope Department of Entomology, Oxford.
