Epaphroditus Champion

Epaphroditus Champion (April 6, 1756 – December 22, 1834) was a late-eighteenth-century and early-nineteenth-century war veteran, politician and land owner from Connecticut. He served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut.

Early life

Champion was born in Colchester, Connecticut, son of Colonel Henry Champion and Deborah (Brainard) Champion. He was educated both by private tutors and in the common schools.

Champion's brother Henry Champion was a major in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and served in the Connecticut state house of representatives.

Career

During the American Revolutionary War, Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull directed Champion's father, Connecticut state commissary Colonel Henry Champion, to collect cattle and drive them to Valley Forge. Champion helped his father gather a herd of 300 cattle at Hartford, Connecticut and drive them west to King's Ferry, across the Hudson, into New Jersey, across the Delaware to Washington's famished troops west of the Schuylkill. They were devoured in five days prompting Champion to remark that the cattle were so thoroughly eaten that "you might have made a knife out of every bone." Champion was named assistant commissary to Trumbull in 1776, and was the first Commissary General of the Continental Army.

Champion moved to East Haddam, Connecticut in 1782. He served as captain in the Twenty-fourth Regiment of the Connecticut State militia from 1784 to 1792, as major from 1793 to 1794, as lieutenant colonel from 1795 to 1798, and as brigadier general of the Seventh Brigade from 1800 to 1803.

He worked as a merchant, shipowner, exporter and importer. He was successful in conducting trade in the West Indies. Champion was a member of the Connecticut state assembly from 1791 to 1806. He was elected as a Federalist candidate to the Tenth United States Congress and to the four succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1807 to March 3, 1817. After serving in Congress, he resumed his former business activities. Champion served as commissary general of provisions for army pensioners in 1832.

Personal life

In 1781, Champion married Lucretia Hubbard (1760-1836). Together, they had three children:

• Lucretia Champion (1783-1882)
• Clarissa Champion (1785-1801)
• Epaphroditus Champion, Jr. (1786-1841).

Champion died on December 22, 1834 in East Haddam, Connecticut. He is interred in Riverview Cemetery in East Haddam. His epitaph reads, "Talents, benevolence and integrity characterized his spotless life."

Legacy

Champion's home in East Haddam is included in the East Haddam Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home is named the General Epaphroditus Champion House and was built in a late-Georgian style.