Background
Labouchere was born on 29 August 1838 in Over Stowey, Somerset, into a Huguenot merchant family. His father was Peter Caesar Labouchere and his mother Dorothy Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Francis Baring.
Labouchere was born on 29 August 1838 in Over Stowey, Somerset, into a Huguenot merchant family. His father was Peter Caesar Labouchere and his mother Dorothy Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Francis Baring.
He was educated at Winchester and Christ Church.
Henry entered the House of Commons as a Whig in 1826. From 1830 to 1858 he sat for Taunton, Somerset. After filling various minor offices, he became president of the Board of Trade in 1839-41; and in 1846 he was chief secretary for Ireland. In 1847-52 he was again president of the Board of Trade, and from 1855 to 1858 secretary of state for the colonies. In 1859 he was created Baron Taunton, but on his death, on the 13th of July 1869, the title became extinct.
In 1840 Labouchere married his first cousin Frances, daughter of Sir Thomas Baring. Frances died in 1850, aged 36. In 1852 he married Lady Mary Howard (1823–1892) daughter of the Earl of Carlisle. There were no children from this marriage.
