Henry Hobart

Hon. Henry Lewis Hobart (bapt. 9 February 1774 – 8 May 1846) was an English Anglican priest who became Dean of Windsor and thus Dean of Wolverhampton.

Background and education Henry Hobart's was born in Nocton, Lincolnshire, the son of George Hobart, 3rd Earl of Buckinghamshire, a fairly unenthusiastic Member of the British House of Commons, initially as a Grenville Whig, from 1754 until 1780 and briefly secretary to the British embassy in Saint Petersburg. He succeeded his half-brother as Earl of Buckinghamshire in 1793.

Henry Hobart's mother was Albinia Bertie, daughter of Lord Vere Bertie (died 1768), younger son of Robert Bertie, 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven.

Hobart was the youngest of eight surviving children. He was born early in 1774 and baptised on 9 February in the parish church at Nocton. He was educated at Westminster School and at Christ's College, Cambridge, which he entered in 1793. He graduated as MA in 1797. This may be due to a certain insensitivity or lack of tact. When Victoria gave birth to the future Edward VII in November 1841, Hobart congratulated her on "thus saving us from the incredible curse of a female succession." Even after his appointment at Windsor, Hobart acquired more livings. From 1823 to 1842 he was vicar of Fulmer, Buckinghamshire,

By a custom dating to the late 15th century, the Deanery of Windsor brought with it the Deanery of Wolverhampton, another royal peculiar, outside the supervision of the local Diocese of Lichfield. St Peter's Collegiate Church was the centre of a large parish, extending far into the Black Country and rural Staffordshire. However, the deanery and prebends were virtual sinecures, as the parish had long been used to absentee clergy and the work was done by poorly paid curates. The deanery lands brought Hobart £600 a year, mainly because of the mineral wealth underlying them. Section 21 decreed that the deanery should be suppressed, along with those of Middleham, Heytesbury and Brecon. Section 51 restricted the rights of any appointees to positions within the colleges but allowed Hobart and the other deans to continue in office until their deaths. The prebends were left vacant in readiness and, on Hobart's death in 1846, the deanery was abolished, followed two years later by the college itself.

Marriage and family On 5 October 1824, Hobart married Charlotte Selina Moore, daughter of Richard Moore, a Chelsea landowner who resided in an apartment at Hampton Court Palace. Their eldest son was Robert Hobart (1836–1928), a Liberal MP from 1906 to 1910, created a baronet in 1914.