Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Champion, John George

by Benjamin Daydon Jackson

CHAMPION, JOHN GEORGE (1815?–1854), botanist, was gazetted ensign in the 95th regiment in 1831, and embarked for foreign service in 1838, having then attained the rank of captain. After a stay in the Ionian Isles, his duties took him to Ceylon, and thence in 1847 to Hongkong. He brought his collection of dried plants to England in 1850; most of his novelties were described by Mr. Bentham in Hooker's 'Journals,' and afterwards served as part material for the 'Flora Hongkongensis.' Before leaving England for the Crimea he placed the last set of his plants in the Kew herbarium. He was wounded at Inkermann, 5 Nov. 1854, and gazetted lieutenant-colonel for his conduct in that battle, but he only enjoyed the rank a short time, dying in hospital at Scutari 30 Nov. following, aged 38. His name is commemorated in the genus Championia, and among other plants by the splendid Rhodoleia Championi.

[Hart's Annual Army List, 1840, 1853; Bentham's Flora Hongkongensis, pp. 8*-9*; Gardeners' Chronicle (1854), pp. 819-20; Mohl u. Schlechtendals Bot. Zeit. xiii. (1855), p. 488.]

B. D. J.

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.61–62
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line

Page	Col.	Line
33	ii	21	Champion, John George: for 1815? read 1815
		22	⁠after botanist insert born in Edinburgh, 5 May 1815, was eldest son of Major John Carey Champion by Elizabeth Herries, daughter of William Urquhart of Craigstone Castle, Aberdeenshire. After education at Sandhurst, where he distinguished himself, he
		23	⁠for in 1831 read on 2 Aug. 1831
		27	⁠after Hongkong read Champion was an ardent botanist. While in Ceylon and at Hongkong he energetically worked at the science, and was in constant correspondence with Sir William Hooker
		32	⁠after Hongkongensis' insert They were also enumerated in Seemann's 'Botany of the Voyage of H.M.S. Herald' and by Forbes and Hemsley in the 'Journal of Linnean Society' (xxiii., xxvi., and xxxvi.)
		34	⁠after Crimea insert in April 1854
		35	⁠after herbarium insert where his correspondence with Sir W. Hooker and Professor Lindley is now preserved
		36	⁠after He insert took part in the battle of the Alma and
		37	⁠before for his insert and C.B
33	ii	38-39	⁠for only enjoyed . . . . dying read died
		43	⁠after Championi insert (Cf. 'Bot. Mag.' 1853). Entomology also engaged Champion's attention. He contributed notes on various insects to the 'Entomological Magazine' for 1836 (iii. 176-8, 376-9, 460-5), and on the Coleoptera of Hongkong in the 'Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal' for 1848 (xvii. pt. ii. 206-9 ; cf. Westwood in 'Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.' N.S. ii. 84, 282). Adam White [q. v.] named the red Longicorn beetle Erythrus Championi. Many drawings and written descriptions of plants and insects discovered by Champion are in the possession of his family.
		44	Champion, John George: add to authorities Kinglake's History of the Crimea,1863; Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, Dec. 1855, p. 302; A Sketch [by various friends] of the Life of Lieut.-Colonel Champion, 1855 (for private circulation)