Sir Arthur Champernowne (c.1524[1] – 1 April 1578) was an English politician, high sheriff and soldier who lived at Dartington Hall in Devon, England.

In 1549, Champernowne helped subdue a rebellion that sought to have the Latin Bible restored to a position of authority over the English-language version.

He flirted with the conspiracy of cousin, Sir Peter Carew to support the claim of Lady Jane Grey, but wisely[citation needed] settled for accepting Mary Tudor.

Champernowne was installed as Member of Parliament for Barnstaple in 1552 (replacing the elected MP, Sir James Wilford, who had died).

Official Posts: On the accession of Elizabeth I he developed his maritime interests: from being Sheriff of Devon in 1559–60, he put to sea.

In December 1568, many of these ships were driven up the channel and into Southampton and Portsmouth to be received by Sir Arthur and Edward Horsey, in the name of the Queen of England.

Champernowne personally delivered 64 boxes of treasure weighing some 8 tonnes safely to the tower of London, worth some 2 million reales.

Champernowne wrote to Queen Elizabeth proposing the raising of an army to provide relief for the protestants in France.