Evangeline Orpington

Evangeline Orpington was a witch and a celebrated Minister for Magic, in office from 1849 to 1855. She is remembered for being the one who first thought of creating a concealed platform at King's Cross Station, to house the Hogwarts Express.

Early Life
Evangeline Orpington was born no later than 1832, into a wizarding family. In her younger years, she purchased her wand, made of poplar wood, from Ollivanders Wand Shop in Diagon Alley.

Garrick Ollivander, the famous wandmaker, went on to write that the "tired old joke" among lesser wandmakers that no popular wand had ever chosen a politician was utterly unsubstantiated, given that two of the most accomplished Ministers for Magic had fine, Ollivander-made poplar wands: Evangeline Orpington and Eldritch Diggory.

Later Life
Orpington was appointed Minister for Magic in 1849.

When her predecessor, Ottaline Gambol, authorized an operation to acquire the Hogwarts Express, the Ministry had seen fit to build a railway station at Hogsmeade. The Ministry was not so keen, however, on building another station, in plain sight, in Muggle London, as it would be in all likelihood a serious breach of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.

King's Cross Station was opened in 1852, during Orpington's time in office. It was only after its opening that the Minister hit upon the idea of adding a concealed platform at King's Cross Station that could only be accesse by witches and wizards: Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

Minister Orpington left the office in 1855, to be regarded as one of the most accomplished Ministers in British history.