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Warning!
At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. Spoilers will be present within the article. |
Minister Ulick Gamp[5] was the first Minister for Magic. He held the office from 1707 to 1718.[5]
Contents
Biography
Early life
Ulick Gamp likely was born sometime before 1690.
Ministry career
After graduating, he joined the Wizard's Council and became a member of Wizengamot. In 1707. after the abolishment of the Council, he bacame the first British Minister of Magic. Gamp had the onerous job of policing a fractious and frightened community adjusting to the imposition of the International Statute of Secrecy. His greatest legacy was to found the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. During Gamp's term, the Ministry outlawed the use of the Cruciatus, Imperius and Killing Curses, dubbing them "unforgivable".[6] During the early years of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, when the fate of the popular wizarding pub The Leaky Cauldron was uncertain, Gamp agreed to bestow the landlord the responsibility of letting people into Diagon Alley, being sensitive to the needs of the patrons. To honour Gamp’s protection of the pub, the landlord created a new brand of beer in his name, Gamp's Old Gregarious.[7] In 1707, he was elected as the first Ministry of Magic.
Gamp was elected Minister at least twice before resigning or being voted out of office in 1718.
Legacy
He was depicted in a portrait hung at the Prime Minister's office at 10 Downing Street and, most likely, at the office of the Minister for Magic at the Ministry of Magic. It is highly probable that a Permanent Sticking Charm was placed on it, as the Muggle Prime Minister could never get the portrait off his wall, even with a builder to help. It served as a messenger between the Minister for Magic and the Muggle Prime Minister.[3]
There was also a portrait of Ulick Gamp at the Leaky Cauldron,[4] presumably as an honour for ensuring protection of the pub as a safe haven for wizards.[7] After a mountain troll that had been kept in Percival Shacklehorn's charmed tent escaped and smashed much of the pub, the bartender mistakenly hit the portrait with a Confundus Charm. The charred painting was subsequently retrieved and restored during the Ministry investigation that followed the disturbance, by Mathilda Grimblehawk and her partner.[4]
Physical appearance

Gamp was a little, froglike man
Gamp was described as "little", "froglike" and wore purple robes and a silver curly wig.[3]
Etymology
Ulick is the Anglicised form of the Irish names Uilleac and Uilleag. There have been several Irish politicians and noblemen named Ulick.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (First appearance) (Appears in portrait(s))
- Pottermore (First identified as Ulick Gamp)
- Wizarding World (Mentioned only)
- Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World (Appears in painting(s))
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Mentioned only)
Notes and references
- ↑ He was most likely of age before becoming minister.
- ↑ ARTICLE - Add to Template:WW at Wizarding World - Nobby Leach (Minister for Magic between 1962 and 1968) was the first Muggle-born wizard ever to be appointed to the office.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 1 (The Other Minister)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World - Case 2: The Smell of Fear, Act 3
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Writing by J.K. Rowling: "Ministers for Magic" at Wizarding World
- ↑ The Tales of Beedle the Bard - Albus Dumbledore on Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Writing by J.K. Rowling: "The Leaky Cauldron" at Wizarding World