John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton

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 a British politician and memoirist. The eldest son of Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, he was born at Redland near Bristol, educated at Westminster School and at Cambridge, where he became friends with Lord Byron, and accompanied him in his journeys in the Peninsula, Greece, 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 [http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-03910.pdf]

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.

References

*A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature
*Rayment