Robert Hoblyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Hoblyn
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| Born | 5 May 1710 |
| Died | 17 November 1756 (aged 46) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Corpus Christi College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Politician Mine owner |
| Spouse(s) | Jane (née Coster) |
| Parent(s) | Francis Hoblyn (1687–1711) and Penelope (née Godolphin) |
Robert Hoblyn (1710–1756) was an important English politician and a great collector of books. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1745, which is a very old and respected group for scientists. He also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the city of Bristol in 1741 and 1747.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Hoblyn was born at Nanswhyden House in Cornwall, England. He was baptised on May 5, 1710, in St. Columb Major. His father, Francis Hoblyn, was a Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Cornwall. A J.P. is a local official who helps keep the peace and deals with minor legal cases. His father was also a member of the Stannary parliament, which was a special parliament for people involved in tin mining in Cornwall.
Robert went to school at Eton College, a famous school in England. After that, he studied at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, starting in 1727. He earned a law degree in 1734.
Political Career and Interests
Robert Hoblyn became a Member of Parliament for the city of Bristol. He served in this role from 1742 to 1754. He was also chosen to be the speaker for two meetings of the Stannary parliament in Cornwall. This shows he was an important figure in both national and local politics.
In 1745, Robert Hoblyn was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a big honour, given to people who have made important contributions to science.
His Love for Books
When he was younger, Robert Hoblyn travelled in Italy. There, he started collecting rare and valuable books. He inherited a lot of money, and he also earned more from a copper mine called Herland mine in Gwinear.
With his wealth, he made his family home, Nanswhyden House, even grander. He loved building and collecting books. He created a huge library, dividing his books into categories like natural science and philosophy. He even made a special handwritten list of his books. On this list, he marked books that were not found in the famous Bodleian Library at Oxford University. People who loved reading and learning, especially clergymen, were allowed to visit and use his library.
Robert Hoblyn passed away at Nanswhyden House on November 17, 1756. There is a long message carved on his monument in St Columb Church.
Family and Legacy
Robert Hoblyn married Jane Coster, who was the only daughter of a merchant from Bristol. After Robert died, Jane married again in 1759.
Robert Hoblyn's library was very famous. In 1768, a catalogue (a list) of his books was printed. It was called Bibliotheca Hobliniana. This catalogue was so well-made that it was considered one of the best of its kind.
The books from his library were sold in London in 1778. They brought in a lot of money, about £2,500, which was a large sum back then. Sadly, Nanswhyden House was destroyed by a fire on November 30, 1803. This fire also destroyed many old documents, records from the Stannary parliament, and his collection of minerals.
