He was born in England, of Moravian parents. In 1837 he arrived in Melbourne, and by 1851, when Melbourne had a gold-induced exodus, he became lieutenant-governor.
In 1839 he wrote an order to the Governor of New South Wales of that time, asking him to declare what became known as Victoria and have it recognised as a separate colony.
Though he had little managerial and administrative experience, he was governor for three years, until 1854. Towards the end of his governorship, his wife Sophie became ill, and he had to wait for Governor Hotham to take his place.
Melbourne and Victoria are dotted with things named in honour of La Trobe, including La Trobe University, La Trobe Street in the CBD, the federal electorate of La Trobe in Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs, the La Trobe Valley in southeastern Victoria, and Mount LaTrobe in Wilsons Promontory.
External link
The Orders of La Trobe, July 31 1839 (http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/text_only/places/vic/vic2.htm)
LaTrobe is an internationally recognised leader in tertiary education and training.
CharlesLaTrobe was the first Superintendent of the Port Phillip District from 1839 to 1850 and first Lieutenant-Governor of the new colony of Victoria from 1851 to 1854.
LaTrobe was the third university established in Victoria.
In 1854LaTrobe was to be replaced, and his wife Sophie returned to Switzerland due to illness while Charles awaited the arrival of Governor Hotham.
Along with Hotham, LaTrobe must be considered one of the major contributors to the conditions that led to the Eureka Stockade uprising.
Before he died, LaTrobe recognised the importance to the colony of a number of the documents in his possession and sent them back to Melbourne where they became the nucleus of an important historical collection now known as the LaTrobe Library collection.
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