Frere John Hookham

Frere, John Hookham (1769-1841), an English man of letters and diplomatist, was born in London and educated at Eton and Cambridge. He entered Parliament in 1796 as a Tory, and to the Anti-Jacobin contributed The Lores of the Triangles, and a share of The Needy Knife-Grinder. In 1799 he succeeded his friend Canning as Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs. In 1800 he became plenipotentiary at Lisbon, and was transferred to Madrid two years later. He was recalled in 1804. but in 1808 returned to his post. He persuaded Sir John Moore to attempt to hold Madrid, and the unfortunate result of his advice closed his diplomatic career. He now retired to Malta, married, and gave himself up to literature. He produced an excellent translation of Aristophanes, and a biographical work on Theocritus. His works were edited (with a memoir) by Sir Bartle Frere (q.v.).