William T N Champ, soldier, public servant and premier, was born on 15 April 1808 at Maldon, Essex, England. As a lieutenant he arrived at Sydney in November 1828 in the convict transport Eliza. The regiment went to Van Diemen's Land in January 1829 and Champ was stationed as a member of the military garrison at the Macquarie Harbour penal settlement, where he acted also as assistant engineer. He left the army and in 1834 returned to Van Diemen's Land where he began farming. In January 1836 he began his long career as a public servant: he was made a justice of the peace and became assistant police magistrate at Hobart as well as muster master. In March 1837 Champ married Helen Abigail, daughter of his neighbour, Major James Gibson, formerly of the 15th Hussars; between 1839 and 1851 they had three sons and five daughters. ;;