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Henry Peter Brougham, Baron (1778-1868), Lord Chancellor educated at High School and University, Edinburgh; passed Advocate, 1800; went on Southern circuit; joined, 1802, founders of Edinburgh Review, contributing three articles to the first number, admitted member of Lincoln's Inn 1803; supported himself in London by writing for Edinburgh Review; secured good opinion of Wilberforce by his sympathy with antislavery movement; called to bar 1808; MP for Camelford 1810, for Winchelsea, 1815; appointed attorney to the Queen as attorney General. He defended Queen Caroline during her trial, 1820; MP for Knaresborough, and later for Yorkshire, 1830; received great seal, and was elevated to peerage as Baron Brougham and Vaux, 1830;. Published Observations on Education of the People (1825); founded the Society for Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, 1825; founded London University, 1828; made celebrated speech on second reading of Reform Bill, 1831; lost office on dismissal of Lord Melbourne's government, 1834; advocated the immediate abolition of slavery, 1838; sat constantly in Supreme Court of appeal and in Judicial Committee of Privy Council; Chancellor of Edinburgh University, 1860. His works include An Inquiry into the Colonial Policy of European Powers ( 1803), Historical sketches of statesman in time of George the III (1839-43), Desmosthenes upon the Crown, translated (1840), and Life and Times of Lord Brougham, written by himself, published in 1871. He died in 1868. (DNB) Return to Photographers List |