Josiah Champagne

General Sir Josiah Champagné (26 September 1755 – 31 January 1840) was a British military commander who was the fifth General Officer Commanding, Ceylon. He was appointed in February 1799 until 1799. He was succeeded by Hay MacDowall.

Background Champagné was born into a family of French Huguenot exiles in Ireland, who fled to Holland after the Edict of Fontainebleau in 1685, joining William of Orange's army. He married Marie de la Rochefoucauld of the noble house of the same name. Their daughter Susanne married Henri de la Motte-Fouqué, baron de Saint-Seurin et de Tonnay-Boutonne, and was mother of Heinrich August de la Motte Fouqué. Their eldest son, Josias de Robillard, distinguished himself at a young age in service of Major-General Isaac de Monceau de la Melonière, who commanded a regiment of exiles in William's army during the Irish campaigns.

Josiah had three brothers: Lt.-Gen. Forbes Champagné; Rev. Arthur Champagné, vicar of Castlelyons; and Rev. George Champagné, Canon of Windsor and Rector of Twickenham. He had six sisters, including Jane, who married the Earl of Uxbridge; Henrietta, wife of Sir Erasmus Dixon Borrowes, 6th Baronet; and Marianne, wife of Sir Charles des Voeux, 1st Baronet.

Captain Champagné joined his corps in May 1784 in Jamaica, and in 1785 went with the expedition to the Spanish main; he continued in the West Indies five years, then returned to England. In 1793 he again embarked for the West Indies under Sir Charles Grey, but proceeded to the relief of Nieuport. On 18 September he was appointed to a majority in the 80th Regiment of Foot and on 19 December to a lieutenant-colonelcy. In 1794 he again went to the Continent, and returned with the army in 1795. He twice embarked in the latter year in command of his regiment for the coast of France: the misfortune at Quiberon prevented the first expedition from proceeding beyond Plymouth; the second, under Major-General Doyle, took possession of Isle Dieu, and remained on that service until January 1796, when he returned to England.

On 26 January 1832, he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order by King William IV.