James Barlow Hoy

James Barlow Hoy, also styled James Barlow-Hoy (born James Barlow, 1794 or December 1793 – 13 August 1843) was an Irish-born military surgeon and politician who represented the Southampton constituency in the British parliament and also served as Deputy Lieutenant Sheriff of Southampton.

Early life and inheritance Hoy was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1794 or the final week of 1793 (he was reported to be aged 35 in a newspaper report on 26 December 1829). His mother's name was Anne, and his brother was Rev. Robert Joseph Barlow. There is not a direct record of Hoy's father, but if Hoy's brother is the same Robert Joseph Barlow that was admitted to Trinity College, Dublin on 6 November 1820, then their father was John Barlow, possibly a printer of Bolton Street in Dublin. and Hoy was sworn in as MP for Southampton on 5 February 1830.

A general election followed later that same year and Hoy again emphasised his independence, "not calling myself Whig or Tory, a servant of ministry or radical reformer". He faced no opposition and thus returned to Parliament. He was appointed as a deputy lieutenant sheriff of Southampton in January 1831 but in another general election later that year he trailed badly and, after a four-day poll, he stood down. He had received 321 votes compared to Penleaze's 632 and 732 for the eventual winner, Arthur Atherley.

In February 1832 Hoy was invited to serve as sheriff of Southampton but he turned the opportunity down. He narrowly won his parliamentary seat back in the general election of 1832, beating Penleaze by 604 votes to 594, but Hoy was then accused of voter impersonation; apart from claiming to have no knowledge or involvement in the matter he offered no defence and he was unseated.

The 1835 election saw Hoy once again top the poll and this time he took his seat once more in Westminster. This time he was not contesting the seat against Penleaze, but with 508 votes he beat Abel Rous Dottin, John Easthope and Peregrine Bingham who received 492, 423 and 371 votes respectively. When Parliament was dissolved in 1837 he chose to retire. In 1841 the Prime Minister, Robert Peel, looked for Hoy to support a new Conservative Party candidate for Southampton and at that point, Hoy made it clear he had no intention of standing for Parliament again.

Personal life Hoy was acclaimed at archery and shooting, and in September 1830 he won first prize in the Southampton New Forest Archers' competition, having "'distinguished himself by the accuracy of his aim" in July of that year. He collected rare bird specimens as a hobby.

On 10 September 1831, after Hoy had lost his parliamentary seat, he married Marian D'Oyley, the daughter and heiress of Shearman Bird who owned Harold's Park near Waltham Abbey in Essex. Following the dissolution of Parliament in 1837, her health was declining, and the couple moved abroad.

The couple had an adopted daughter, Eleanor Maria Pera, and a daughter of their own, Louisa.

Death In August 1843, Hoy was again abroad due to his wife's ill health and he took the opportunity to pursue his hobby of seeking specimens of rare birds. He was with a shooting party in the Pyrenees and when crossing a ravine on the Spanish side of the border he dropped his gun and it fired, shattering his left arm. He was taken to the Hospice de Vielle, a hospital on the French side of the border, but died there of tetanus less than 24 hours after the accident. Hoy had accumulated large mortgage debts and the extent to which the wishes expressed in his will were fulfilled. Part of The Hermitage estate passed to Louisa, while Hoy's Widow, Marian, subsequently married John Richard Digby Beste, an author from Botley in Hampshire.