Family and Education

b. 17 Aug. 1723, 1st surv. s. of John, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire, by his 1st w. Judith, da. of Robert Britiffe of Baconsthorpe, Norwich; half-bro. of Hon. George and Hon. Henry Hobart.  educ. Westminster 1732-9; Christ’s, Camb. 1739.  m. (1) 14 July 1761, Martha (d. 30 Dec. 1769), da. and coh. of Sir Thomas Drury, 1st Bt., M.P., 4 da.; (2) 24 Sept. 1770, Caroline, da. of William Conolly, M.P., sis. of Thomas Conolly, 3s.d.v.p. 1 da.  suc. fa. as 2nd Earl 22 Sept. 1756.

Offices Held

Comptroller of the Household Dec. 1755-6; P.C. 27 Jan. 1756; ld. of the bedchamber Nov. 1757-Nov. 1767; envoy to Russia 1762-5; ld. lt. [I] 1777-80.

Biography

Hobart sat for Norwich on his family interest. He was a Government supporter, and one speech of his is recorded during the two years he sat in the Parliament of 1754: in support of the motion for Hanoverian troops, 29 Mar. 1756.1

A picture of his personality, not altogether favourable, emerges from his letters to his brother-in-law, Charles Hotham, in the Hotham papers.  He died 3 Sept. 1793.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Sir Lewis Namier

Notes

• 1. Newdigate’s ‘Debates’.