Sir Henry Hobart, 4th Baronet

Sir Henry Hobart, 4th Baronet (died 21 August 1698) was an English Whig politician and baronet.

He was the oldest son of Sir John Hobart, 3rd Baronet and his first wife Mary Hampden, daughter of John Hampden. Hobart was knighted in Blickling by King Charles II of England in 1671 and succeeded his father as baronet in 1683. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge.

Hobart entered the English House of Commons for King's Lynn in 1681, sitting for it until 1685. He represented Thetford from January to February 1689 and subsequently Norfolk until 1690. Hobart was Gentleman of the Horse to King William III of England and fought under him in the Battle of the Boyne and a year later, he was appointed Vice-Admiral of Norfolk. In 1694, he was elected for Bere Alston, a seat he held until the following year, when he was returned again for Norfolk until his death in 1698.

On 9 July 1684, he married Elizabeth Maynard, eldest daughter of Sir Joseph Maynard, and had by her a son and three daughters.

Hobart was killed in a duel with Oliver Le Neve in Cawston Heath 20 August 1698 and was buried at Thetford. This was the last duel in Norfolk. His opponent was found guilty of manslaughter. Le Neve fled to Holland, but was later pardoned. Hobart was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son John, later raised to the peerage as Earl of Buckinghamshire. Oliver Le Neve was a lawyer from Great Witchingham was known as a great sportsman and a great drinker. He fought left-handed and was soon wounded in the arm by Sir Henry who had a reputation as a swordsman. However, Le Neve then struck back and injured his opponent so badly that he died next day at Blickling. As there appear to have been no seconds or witnesses, the duel was illegal. Le Neve fled to Holland but returned to England two years later, having received a pardon. It is said locally that details of the duel came from a girl who was hiding in the bushes, and tales are still told of this unfortunate event which is commemorated by the Duel Stone which stands in a small National Trust plot near the Woodrow Garage, Norwich Road, Cawston.

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