John Cam Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton and 2nd Baronet, PC (1786–1869) was the eldest son of Sir Benjamin Hobhouse, born at Redland near Bristol, educated at Westminster School and at Cambridge, where he became intimate with Lord Byron, and accompanied him in his journeys in the Peninsula, Greece, and Turkey, and acted as his "best man". In 1816 he was with him after his separation from his wife, and contributed notes to the fourth canto of Childe Harold, which was dedicated to him.

On his return he threw himself into politics with great energy as an advanced Radical, and wrote various pamphlets, for one of which he was in 1819 imprisoned in Newgate. In the following year he entered Parliament, sitting for Westminster.

After the attainment of power by the Whigs he held various offices, including those of Secretary at War, Chief Secretary for Ireland, and President of the Board of Control.

He published Journey through Albania (1813), Historical Illustrations of the Fourth Canto of Childe Harold (1818), and Recollections of a Long Life (1865), for private circulation, and he left in MS. Diaries, Correspondence, and Memoranda, etc., not to be opened till 1900, extracts from which were published by his daughter, Lady Dorchester, also under the title of Recollections from a Long Life (1909).

He is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, London.

This article is originally from A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature.

Preceded by: Edward Geoffrey Smith-Stanley	Chief Secretary for Ireland 1833	Succeeded by: Edward John Littleton
Preceded by: John Ponsonby	First Commissioner of Woods and Forests 1834	Succeeded by: Lord Granville Somerset
Preceded by: Edward Law	President of the Board of Control 1835–1841	Succeeded by: Edward Law

Preceded by: New creation	Baron Broughton	Succeeded by: Extinct
Preceded by: Sir Benjamin Hobhouse	Hobhouse Baronet of Westbury	Succeeded by: Sir Charles Hobhouse