John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton

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For other persons named John Hobhouse, see John Hobhouse (disambiguation).

John Cam Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton, PC (27 June 1786–3 June 1869), known as Sir John Cam Hobhouse, Bt from 1831 to 1851, was the eldest son of Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, born at Redland near Bristol, educated at Westminster School and at Cambridge, where he became intimate with Lord Byron, and accompanied him in his journeys in the Peninsula, Greece, and Turkey, and acted as his "best man". In 1816 he was with him after his separation from his wife, and contributed notes to the fourth canto of Childe Harold, which was dedicated to him.

On his return he threw himself into politics with great energy as an advanced Radical, and wrote various pamphlets, for one of which he was in 1819 imprisoned in Newgate. In the following year he entered Parliament, sitting for Westminster.

Hobhouse is credited with the invention of the phrase His Majesty's (Loyal) Opposition made in 1826 during a speech in the House of Commons[1]

After the attainment of power by the Whigs he held various offices, including those of Secretary at War, Chief Secretary for Ireland, and President of the Board of Control.

He published Journey through Albania (1813), Historical Illustrations of the Fourth Canto of Childe Harold (1818), and Recollections of a Long Life (1865), for private circulation, and he left in MS. Diaries, Correspondence, and Memoranda, etc., not to be opened till 1900, extracts from which were published by his daughter, Lady Dorchester, also under the title of Recollections from a Long Life (1909).

He is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, London. His barony died with him, as he had no direct heirs, whilst the baronetcy created for his father passed to Broughton's nephew.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates public domain text from: Cousin, John William (1910). A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London, J.M. Dent & sons; New York, E.P. Dutton.
• This page incorporates information from Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by George Lamb and Sir Francis Burdett	Member of Parliament for Westminster 2-seat constituency (with Sir Francis Burdett) 1820–1833	Succeeded by George de Lacy Evans and Sir Francis Burdett
Political offices
Preceded by Sir Henry Parnell, Bt	Secretary at War 1832–1833	Succeeded by Edward Ellice
Preceded by Edward Smith-Stanley	Chief Secretary for Ireland 1833	Succeeded by Edward John Littleton
Preceded by Viscount Duncannon	First Commissioner of Woods and Forests 1834	Succeeded by The Lord Granville Somerset
Preceded by The Lord Ellenborough	President of the Board of Control 1835–1841	Succeeded by The Lord Ellenborough
Preceded by The Earl of Ripon	President of the Board of Control 1846–1852	Succeeded by Fox Maule Ramsay
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by New creation	Baron Broughton 1851–1869	Succeeded by Extinct
Preceded by Benjamin Hobhouse	Hobhouse Baronet of Westbury 1831–1869	Succeeded by Charles Hobhouse