HOBART, Hon. George (1731-1804), of Nocton and Blyborough, Lincs.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1754 - 1761
1761 - 1780

Family and Education

b. 8 Sept. 1731, 4th s. of John, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire, by his 2nd w. Elizabeth, da. of Robert Bristow, M.P., of Micheldever, Hants; bro. of Hon. Henry Hobart, and half-bro. of John, Lord Hobart.  educ.Westminster 1739.  m. 16 May 1757, Albinia, da. and coh. of Lord Vere Bertie (s. of Robert, 1st Duke of Ancaster), 4s. 4da.  suc. half-bro. as 3rd Earl of Buckinghamshire 3 Sept. 1793.

Offices Held

Biography

Hobart sat for St. Ives and Bere Alston on the interest of Lord Buckinghamshire. He early wished to be employed abroad, and in 1756 applied to Newcastle for the post of resident at Hamburg.1 In August 1762 he went with Lord Buckinghamshire to St. Petersburg as secretary of embassy. But he did not like it there. ‘My brother is a good deal out of spirits’, wrote Buckinghamshire on 21 Oct. 1762.2 And on 27 Dec.: ‘Poor George ... is convinced that this climate will not agree with him and is therefore determined to ask leave to return to England.’3 He arrived in July 1763.

In Parliament Hobart followed Grenville, and went over to the court after his death. But he seems to have taken little interest in politics, and there is no record of his having spoken in the House. He did not stand in 1780. He was better known in social life as the promoter of the opera in the Haymarket.4

He died 14 Nov. 1804.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: John Brooke

Notes

  • 1. Add. 32866, f. 355.
  • 2. Despatches Corresp. of Ld. Buckinghamshire, ed. d’ Arcy Collyer, i. 76.
  • 3. HMC Lothian, 171.
  • 4. Walpole to Mann, 22 Feb. 1771; Malmesbury Letters, i. 216.