}
Richard Champion, manufacturer of true porcelain
Richard Champion (1743-1791), porcelain manufacturer, was born in Bristol on 6 November 1743. Through his great-grandfather Nehemiah Champion, Richard was related to the elder branch of the Champion family which played a prominent part in the brass industry. Little is known of his early years. In 1751 he was sent to London to live with his father who had remarried, but returned to Bristol in 1762 and worked for his merchant uncle, Richard ‘Gospel’ Champion. In 1764 he married Judith (Julia) Lloyd, with whom he was to have nine children.
About the same time Champion made the acquaintance of his fellow Quaker William Cookworthy of Plymouth, who had for many years been experimenting with the production of true or hard-paste porcelain. In 1765 Champion records the existence in Bristol of a short-lived hard-paste porcelain factory which failed, but there is no evidence that Champion himself was involved in the ceramic industry before 1768, the year in which Cookworthy secured his patent for the protection of his discoveries and set up his factory in Plymouth. In the same year Champion entered into a partnership which has led to speculation that a hard-paste porcelain factory existed in Bristol from 1768. However, no other evidence has come to light to support this theory and it seems more likely that Champion was involved in Cookworthy's Plymouth undertaking. In 1770 the Plymouth works closed and production was transferred to Castle Green, Bristol, under Cookworthy's management and with Champion as one of the partners.
In 1773 Cookworthy sold his patent and interest in the factory to Richard Champion personally, while reserving to himself and his heirs a royalty for ninety-nine years. Although Champion had no practical experience of potting, under his management the quality of the ware improved markedly. In particular, the factory produced some of the finest gilding on 18th-century porcelain.
The Bristol factory produced mainly figures and tea wares; these latter ranged in decoration from simple green husk ornament to lavishly decorated services for individuals, some of whom were partners in the firm, for example Edward Brice, and Joseph and Mark Harford. Champion's association with the statesman Edmund Burke, who was briefly MP for Bristol, gave rise to the finest of all Bristol services, the personal gift of Richard and Judith Champion to Mrs Edmund Burke (teapot, milk jug, and sugar bowl in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh). Major collections of Bristol porcelain can be seen in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.
In 1775 Champion petitioned parliament for an extension of Cookworthy's patent for a further fourteen years. This petition was strongly opposed by Staffordshire potters, including Josiah Wedgwood. The act was passed, but in a modified form which was ultimately to play a part in Champion's failure.
During this year, Champion presented Queen Charlotte (wife of King George III) with a pair of biscuit portraits of the king and herself which are now in the Royal Collection.
However, the high costs of the porcelain venture, together with the decline in trade with America after 1776, led Champion into financial difficulties. In 1778 he came close to bankruptcy but the factory remained in limited production until 1781; the last dated piece is a figure of Grief commemorating Champion's eldest daughter, Eliza, who died on 13 October 1779 (Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, North Carolina). In 1781 Champion disposed of his patent to a group of Staffordshire potters who formed the New Hall China Manufactory. Champion moved to Newcastle under Lyme but remained there only until April 1782 when, through the influence of Edmund Burke, he was appointed joint-deputy paymaster-general of his majesty's forces.
Champion participated actively in the politics of his city. He was treasurer of the Bristol Infirmary (1768-78), warden of the Society of Merchant Venturers (1772-3) and a founder member of the Bristol Library Society. In 1774 he played a major part in the election of Edmund Burke as MP for Bristol; the two became close friends and Champion, with trading and family connections in South Carolina, was able to keep Burke and other leading whigs informed of American feelings at a critical time. However, his involvement with politics, some of his business dealings, and the arming of his ships for protection, led to conflict with the Quakers and he ceased his association with them in 1778.
In 1784, on the collapse of the coalition government, Champion lost his post. He had hopes of being appointed consul-general to North America but was to be disappointed. Nevertheless, he and his family emigrated to South Carolina and settled on a plantation near Camden. He took naturalization and served briefly in the state assembly. In his latter years he wrote a pamphlet on the subject of free trade with America and a series of letters contrasting his gloomy view of Great Britain's future with his optimistic outlook for America. Richard Champion died on 7 October 1791 and was buried in the Quaker burial-ground at Camden.
About the same time Champion made the acquaintance of his fellow Quaker William Cookworthy of Plymouth, who had for many years been experimenting with the production of true or hard-paste porcelain. In 1765 Champion records the existence in Bristol of a short-lived hard-paste porcelain factory which failed, but there is no evidence that Champion himself was involved in the ceramic industry before 1768, the year in which Cookworthy secured his patent for the protection of his discoveries and set up his factory in Plymouth. In the same year Champion entered into a partnership which has led to speculation that a hard-paste porcelain factory existed in Bristol from 1768. However, no other evidence has come to light to support this theory and it seems more likely that Champion was involved in Cookworthy's Plymouth undertaking. In 1770 the Plymouth works closed and production was transferred to Castle Green, Bristol, under Cookworthy's management and with Champion as one of the partners.
In 1773 Cookworthy sold his patent and interest in the factory to Richard Champion personally, while reserving to himself and his heirs a royalty for ninety-nine years. Although Champion had no practical experience of potting, under his management the quality of the ware improved markedly. In particular, the factory produced some of the finest gilding on 18th-century porcelain.
The Bristol factory produced mainly figures and tea wares; these latter ranged in decoration from simple green husk ornament to lavishly decorated services for individuals, some of whom were partners in the firm, for example Edward Brice, and Joseph and Mark Harford. Champion's association with the statesman Edmund Burke, who was briefly MP for Bristol, gave rise to the finest of all Bristol services, the personal gift of Richard and Judith Champion to Mrs Edmund Burke (teapot, milk jug, and sugar bowl in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh). Major collections of Bristol porcelain can be seen in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.
In 1775 Champion petitioned parliament for an extension of Cookworthy's patent for a further fourteen years. This petition was strongly opposed by Staffordshire potters, including Josiah Wedgwood. The act was passed, but in a modified form which was ultimately to play a part in Champion's failure.
During this year, Champion presented Queen Charlotte (wife of King George III) with a pair of biscuit portraits of the king and herself which are now in the Royal Collection.
However, the high costs of the porcelain venture, together with the decline in trade with America after 1776, led Champion into financial difficulties. In 1778 he came close to bankruptcy but the factory remained in limited production until 1781; the last dated piece is a figure of Grief commemorating Champion's eldest daughter, Eliza, who died on 13 October 1779 (Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, North Carolina). In 1781 Champion disposed of his patent to a group of Staffordshire potters who formed the New Hall China Manufactory. Champion moved to Newcastle under Lyme but remained there only until April 1782 when, through the influence of Edmund Burke, he was appointed joint-deputy paymaster-general of his majesty's forces.
Champion participated actively in the politics of his city. He was treasurer of the Bristol Infirmary (1768-78), warden of the Society of Merchant Venturers (1772-3) and a founder member of the Bristol Library Society. In 1774 he played a major part in the election of Edmund Burke as MP for Bristol; the two became close friends and Champion, with trading and family connections in South Carolina, was able to keep Burke and other leading whigs informed of American feelings at a critical time. However, his involvement with politics, some of his business dealings, and the arming of his ships for protection, led to conflict with the Quakers and he ceased his association with them in 1778.
In 1784, on the collapse of the coalition government, Champion lost his post. He had hopes of being appointed consul-general to North America but was to be disappointed. Nevertheless, he and his family emigrated to South Carolina and settled on a plantation near Camden. He took naturalization and served briefly in the state assembly. In his latter years he wrote a pamphlet on the subject of free trade with America and a series of letters contrasting his gloomy view of Great Britain's future with his optimistic outlook for America. Richard Champion died on 7 October 1791 and was buried in the Quaker burial-ground at Camden.