Henry Hobhouse (East Somerset MP)

For other people named Henry Hobhouse, see Henry Hobhouse (disambiguation).

Hobhouse in 1895.

Henry Hobhouse PC (1 March 1854 – 25 June 1937) was an English landowner and Liberal, and from 1886 Liberal Unionist politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1906.

Hobhouse was the son of Henry Hobhouse, of Hadspen House, Somerset, and his wife, the Hon. Charlotte Etruria Talbot, daughter of James Talbot, 3rd Baron Talbot of Malahide. After his father's death in 1862 his uncle Arthur Hobhouse became his guardian.[1] He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn. He practised as a parliamentary draughtsman and was a J.P. for Somerset.[2]

In the 1885 general election, Hobhouse was elected MP for East Somerset. He held the seat until 1906.[3] Hobhouse was particularly concerned with education. He was appointed to the Board of Education in 1900[4] and was behind the establishment of the 1902 Education Act.[5]

Hobhouse was involved in the founding of Sexey's School and Sunny Hill (now Bruton School for Girls) at Bruton. He was also pro-chancellor of Bristol University and an honorary LLD of the University,. He worked hard on behalf of the university and left a collection of books to the library.[6]

Hobhouse was a county figure and knowledgeable about local matters. A member of Somerset County Council, he was responsible for forming the County Councils Association. He was also behind the establishment of the Cider Institute in 1902 and was its chairman.[7]

  1. ^ "Hobhouse, Henry". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33904. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ Debrett's Guide to the House of Commons 1886, p. 78
  3. ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 378. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
  4. ^ London Gazette, Friday, 10 August 1900.
  5. ^ Schools in Bruton, brutontown.co.uk. Accessed 24 January 2023.
  6. ^ Library of the University of Bristol 1876-1975 Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ A Brooke-Hunt The National fruit and cider institute, its origin and objects (1904)