Brougham, Henry Peter, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux (1778 -1868)

Henry Peter Brougham was the eldest son of Henry Brougham of Brougham Hall, and Eleanor Syme. Although in later life he claimed descent from the De Burghams of Brougham Castle, and from the Barons of Vaulx, his pedigree cannot be traced with certainty beyond Henry Brougham of Scales Hall, Cumberland in 1665. Educated at Edinburgh High School and Edinburgh University, he became a member of the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh, contributed to the Edinburgh Review founded in 1802, became a member of Lincoln's Inn in 1803, and in 1805 settled in London, where he supported himself partly by his literary efforts. He went into politics, sitting for Camelford in 1810 1812, for Winchilsea in Sussex 1812 1829, and for Knaresborough and the County of York in 1830. A brilliant advocate and politician he was Lord Chancellor from 1830 1834, and at the same time was created Baron Brougham and Vaux. One of the supporters of the Mechanics Institutes and London University and a Fellow of the Royal Society, he lived normally at Cannes in the South of the France where he had a chateau. He married Mary Anne Eden, widow of John Spalding 1 April 1819. They had two daughters, both of whom died young. As he had no surviving issue, his title descended by special limitation to his brother William. Books from his library were sold at Sotheby's 22 March, 25 July, and 20 December 1932, 27 February 1933, and 15 May and 25 July 1939.