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

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

He died 14 Nov. 1804.