John Arthur Roebuck

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For the English inventor, see John Roebuck

John Arthur Roebuck (December 28, 1802 – November 30, 1879), British politician, was born at Madras, in India.

After the death of his father, a civil servant, his mother's second marriage transferred him to Canada, where he was chiefly brought-up. He came to England in 1824, was called to the bar (Q.C. 1843), became intimate with the leading radical and utilitarian reformers, was elected Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Bath in 1832, and took up that general attitude of hostility to the government of the day, be it what it might, which he retained throughout his life.

At all times conspicuous for his eloquence, honesty and recalcitrancy, he twice came with especial prominence before the public—in 1838, when, although at the time without a seat in parliament, he appeared at the bar of the Commons to protest, in the name of the Canadian Assembly, against the suspension of the Canadian constitution; and in 1855, when, having overthrown Lord Aberdeen's ministry by carrying a resolution for the appointment of a committee of inquiry into the mismanagement in the Crimean War, he presided over its proceedings.

In his latter years his political opinions became greatly modified, but with one interruption he retained his seat for Sheffield, which he had won in 1849, until his death in London.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
• This page incorporates information from Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page.

[edit] External link

• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by John Thynne	Member of Parliament for Bath 1832–1837	Succeeded by The Viscount Powerscourt William Bruges
Preceded by The Viscount Powerscourt William Bruges	Member of Parliament for Bath 1841–1847	Succeeded by Lord Ashley
Preceded by Henry George Ward	Member of Parliament for Sheffield 1849–1868	Succeeded by Anthony John Mundella
Preceded by George Hadfield	Member of Parliament for Sheffield 1874–1879	Succeeded by Samuel Danks Waddy