1778-1868. British Whig politician and
lawyer. From 1811 he was chief adviser to the
Princess of Wales (afterwards Queen
Caroline), and in 1820 he defeated the
attempt of George IV to divorce her. He was
Lord Chancellor 1830-34, supporting the
Reform Bill. Born in Edinburgh, he was a
founder of the Edinburgh Review 1802. He sat
in Parliament 1810-12 and from 1816, and
supported the causes of public education and
law reform. He was one of the founders of
University College, London, 1828. When the
Whigs returned to power 1830, Brougham
accepted the chancellorship and a peerage a
few weeks later. His allegedly dictatorial
and eccentric ways led to his exclusion from
office when the Whigs next assumed power
1835. After 1837 he was active in the House
of Lords.