BARON BROUGHAM AND VAUX,

LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR OF GREAT BRITAIN, &C.

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His purpose chose, he forward pressed outright,
Nor turned aside for danger or delight.--_COWLEY_.

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The illustrious subject of this Memoir is the eldest son of a
gentleman of small fortune, but ancient family, in Cumberland,[1] His
mother was the daughter of a Scotch clergyman; in the mansion of whose
widow, on the Castle Hill of Edinburgh, the father of Lord Brougham
lodged when prosecuting his studies at the University there. Chambers,
the laborious topographical historian of the Modern Athens, says that
Lord Brougham was born in St. Andrew's Square, in that city, though
this has been disputed. The family of the late Mr. Brougham consisted
of four sons:--Henry John, an extensive wine-merchant in Edinburgh,
who died at Boulogne, about two years since; James, the Chancery
Barrister, who formerly sat with Baron Abercromby in parliament, for
Tregony, and sits at present for Downton, Wilts; and William, who has
recently been appointed a Master in Chancery, and elected Member for
the Borough of Southwark.

In early life Mr. Brougham was called to the bar of the Supreme Court
of Edinburgh, where he practised for some time, and with considerable
success, if we may judge from his frequent employment in Scotch
appeals. His selection, too, on the part of persons charged with