James Hare (MP)

James Hare (1747–1804) was an English politician, diplomat and wit.

James Hare

Life

He was the son of Joseph Hare, an apothecary of Wells, Somerset.^[1] He was educated at Eton College, and entered King's College, Cambridge in December 1765. He graduated B.A. in 1770, having become a fellow in 1768, a position he held to 1774.^[2]

Hare entered London life, where his status as a wit was generally recognised. He associated with the fashionable set of Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle, Earl Fitzwilliam, General Richard FitzPatrick, Charles James Fox, and Anthony Morris Storer. He sat for the borough of Stockbridge, in Hampshire, from May 1772 to 1774, and then for Knaresborough, a constituency controlled by the Duke of Devonshire, from 3 July 1781 until his death in 1804. He broke down in his maiden parliamentary speech, and never made a second attempt.^[3]

Hare was extravagant, particularly at cards, and ran short of money. From October 1779 to January 1782 he was minister plenipotentiary in Poland. In 1802 he was very ill in Paris, and Fox paid him frequent visits. He died at Bath, Somerset 17 March 1804. ^[3]

Works

Hare was believed to have been one of the writers of the Rolliad.^[3]

Family

Hare's fortune was improved by his marriage at St. George's, Hanover Square, London, on 21 January 1774, to Hannah, only daughter of Sir Abraham Hume, 1st Baronet. She died 6 May 1827, and a monument to her memory was placed in the chancel of Wormley Church, Hertfordshire. They had one daughter.^[3]

Notes

1. Carter, Philip. "Hare, James". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/12303. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
2. "Hare, James (HR765J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
3.  Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney, eds. (1890). "Hare, James". Dictionary of National Biography. 24. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney, eds. (1890). "Hare, James". Dictionary of National Biography. 24. London: Smith, Elder & Co.