Family and Education

b. 1703, 4th s. of Robert Home (subsequently Hume) of Ayton, Berwick, by Hannah Curtis of Mile End, Mdx.; bro. of Alexander Hume.  m. 2 Oct. 1746, Hannah, da. of Sir Thomas Frederick, gov. of Fort St. David, sis. of Sir John Frederick, 4th Bt. and of Sir Charles Frederick, 2s. 1da. His w.’s sis. Mary m. Alexander Hume.  suc. bro. 15 Sept. 1765; cr. Bt. 4 Apr. 1769.

Offices Held

Director, South Sea Co. and Exchange Assurance Co.; commissary to the forces abroad Dec. 1742; commissary gen. of stores at home and abroad Dec. 1746-7, 1756.1

Biography

Hume was a merchant holding some Government contracts. In 1754 he resigned his seat at Steyning to his brother Alexander, and unsuccessfully contested Maidstone, at a cost of at least £1,600.2

His brother-in-law, Sir Charles Frederick, was married to a daughter of Hugh, 1st Viscount Falmouth, and Hume was returned for Tregony on the Falmouth interest in 1761. He is marked as an Administration supporter in Bute’s list, and by Jenkinson in the autumn of 1763. Like his brother, he did not vote in the division on general warrants, 18 Feb. 1764, and was included by Jenkinson in his ‘List of Friends Absent’; but so he was also by Newcastle. No vote by Hume in any division in this Parliament is recorded, nor any speech; but Newcastle listed him in March 1767 as ‘Administration’. He did not stand again in 1768.

He died 10 Oct. 1772.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Sir Lewis Namier

Notes

• 1. Cal. Treasury Pprs. 1742-5, p. 421; T29/30/449; T29/33/40; Add. 33039, f. 149.
• 2. Add. 33055, ff. 265-7; 32995, f. 173.