Transcript

of

Arthur Champernowne, M.A. [Obituary]

Rev. W. Harpley,

Trans. Devon. Assoc., 1887, Vol XIX, pp.40-41.

Prepared by Michael Steer

A more complete obituary of Arthur Champernowne, M.A., J.P., F.G.S. is presented in the Geological Magazine, volume 4, issue 8; August 1887, pp. 382-384 [Full text]. The present article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers

Arthur Champernowne, M.A., was a member of one of the oldest families of the County of Devon, perhaps of the West of England, his ancestors through many generations having occupied the ancient manorial residence of Dartington Hall, near Totnes. Mr. Champernowne was educated at Eton, and at Trinity College, Oxford, and was a Justice of the Peace for Devon. He was made a Fellow of the Geological Society in 1868, and was elected a member of the Council in February, 1887; he devoted very great attention to the geology of his native county, and was regarded as a high authority on that subject. He joined the Association in 1866, and subsequently, in 1878, compounded as a life member. In 1876, at the Ashburton meeting, he filled the Office of Vice-President; and again in 1880, at the Totnes meeting, he held the same office. His great kindness in throwing open his fine old place and beautiful grounds on both these occasions for the inspection of the members of the Association, and his liberal hospitality, will long be remembered. On the former occasion he read to those present a carefully prepared and accurate "Historical Sketch of Dartington, and Notices of the Chief Architectural Points at the Hall" which was listened to with the most lively interest.

Mr. Champernowne was also a member of the Teign Naturalists' Field Club, which he joined in 1869, of the Torquay Natural History Society, 1876, and of the British Association, 1877. The following papers were read by him at various times and published:  “Historical Sketch of Dartington, and Notices of the Chief Architectural Points at the Hall" (Teign Naturalists’ Field Club, 1868); "A Geological Sketch of the Neighbourhood of Denbury" (Ibid. 1876); "Notes on the Structure of the Palaeozoic Districts of West Somerset" (Geological Society, 1879), jointly with Mr. W. A. E. Ussher ; “Note on some Devonian Stroma-toporidæ from Dartington, near Totnes" {Ibid. 1879); "Excursion of the Geologists' Association to South Devon" (Geologists' Association, 1884), jointly with Mr. R N. Worth; "On the Succession of the Palaeozoic Deposits of South Devon" (British Association, 1877); "Amateur Map of Devonian Rocks of South Devon," now being prepared for publication.

Mr. Champernowne had been unwell for some time previously to his death; but about a fortnight before that event, being somewhat better, he drove from Dartington to his Paignton residence. He was, however, taken worse while there, and returned to Dartington. Dr. Currie, of Totnes, attended him; but his illness increasing, Dr. Huxley, of Torquay, was called, and on Saturday, the 21st May, Dr. Hingston, of Plymouth, was telegraphed for. That gentleman saw him during the day, but he gradually sank, and died on Sunday morning, the 22nd May, 1887, of pneumonia of both lungs and congestion of the brain, at the age of 48 years.

In 1870 Mr. Champernowne married Helen, daughter of the late Mr. L. Melville, of Hatfield Grove, Sussex, whom he left a widow with ten children, the eldest, a boy, succeeding to the estate.