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Charles Joseph La Trobe (March 20, 1801 - December 4, 1875) was the first lieutenant-governor of the state of Victoria.
He was born in England, of Moravian parents. Active in mountaineering, he made a number of ascents in the Alps 1824-1826. In 1832 he visited the United States along with Count Albert Pourtales, and in 1834 traveled from New Orleans to Mexico with Washington Irving.
In 1837 he was entrusted with a government commission in the West Indies, then was sent to the Port Philip district of New South Wales in 1839. 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.
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