1646 he delivered in the schools at Cambridge a discourse, which was published two years later, with the title of ‘Ad Philosophiam Teutonicam Manuductio, seu Determinatio de Origine Animæ Humanæ,’ &c. (12mo, pp. xvi, 42). It contains some complimentary verses by his friend Henry More. A translation of this tract was published in 1650 by his brother, Durant Hotham [q. v.] In December 1650 he preached against the ‘Engagement’ and was forbidden to pursue the subject (Cary, Civil War Corresp. ii. 247). On 29 March 1651 he presented a petition to the committee for the reformation of the universities, embodying a complaint against Dr. Lazarus Seaman, master of Peterhouse. Not being satisfied with the result of his petition he published it, along with some bitter observations on the action of the committee; whereupon on 29 May it was resolved that his book was scandalous and against the privilege of parliament, and that he should be deprived of his fellowship. In vindication of himself he then printed a statement of his case, with a strong testimonial in favour of his character, signed by thirty-three leading men in the university. Later in the year he republished these tracts in a small 12mo volume entitled ‘Corporations Vindicated in their Fundamental Liberties,’ &c.
He was appointed rector of Wigan in 1653. In 1654 he translated Boehme's ‘Consolatory Treatise of the Four Complexions’ (London, 12mo); and in 1656 wrote a poetical commendation of thirty-eight lines to the ‘Drunkard's Prospective,’ by Major Joseph Rigbie, a curious little work against intemperance.
At the Restoration in 1660 he was pronounced unorthodox, and his ejection from Wigan in favour of John Burton was attempted (Cal. State Papers, Dom. 1660–1, pp. 278, 324). He continued rector, however, until 1662, when, on refusing to conform, he was forced to retire. He subsequently went to the West Indies and became one of the ministers of the Somer Islands (Bermudas). He is so described in his will, dated 15 Feb. 1671 (presumably 1671–2), proved at London on 2 March 1673–4. In it he ordered his astrological books to be burnt, ‘as monuments of lying vanity and remnants of the heathen idolatry.’ In later life he had interested himself in chemistry and astronomy, and was elected F.R.S. in 1667 (Thomson, Hist. Roy. Soc. App. iv.). He married at Wigan, on 15 Sept. 1656, Elizabeth, daughter of Stephen Thompson of Humbleton, Yorkshire. She was buried at Little Driffield, Yorkshire, on 29 April 1685. His eldest son, Charles, who succeeded his cousin John as fourth baronet in 1691, was intended for the ministry, but went into the army, became brigadier-general and colonel of the royal regiment of dragoons, sat for some time as M.P. for Beverley, and was knighted (Wotton, Baronetage, ed. Kimber and Johnson, i. 231–2).
[Calamy's Account, 1713, ii. 413; Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, pt. i. p. 115; Cat. of Ashmolean MSS. Nos. 240 p. 256 and 243 p. 162; Best's Farming Book (Surtees Soc.), pp. 170, 186; Cooper's Annals of Cambridge, iii. 441, 446; Bridgeman's Rectors of Wigan (Chetham Soc.), iii. 472; Le Neve's Fasti (Hardy), iii. 623; Poulson's Holderness, ii. 399; Foster's Yorkshire Pedigrees, North and East Ridings; Ross's Celebrities of the Yorkshire Wolds, p. 77; Grosart's Crashaw, vol. i. p. xxxiii; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Masson's Life of Milton, i. 215; communications from the Revs. C. B. Norcliffe, J. I. Dredge, and H. Newton.]
HOTHAM, Sir CHARLES (1800–1855), naval commander and colonial governor, born at Dennington, Suffolk, in 1800, was eldest son of Frederick Hotham, prebendary of Rochester, by Anne Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Thomas Hallett Hodges. He entered the navy on 6 Nov. 1818, and became lieutenant in September 1825, commander 13 Aug. 1828, and captain on 28 June 1833. In 1845 he took part in the Para expedition against Rosas, and for this and other services in South America was made a K.C.B. in 1846. In view of the troubles consequent on the gold discoveries, he was selected as lieutenant-governor for the young colony of Victoria, 2 June 1854, being made full governor on 22 May 1855. The condition of the colony was serious. Disorder reigned at the diggings, and disorganisation in the administration. He firmly repressed the former, which culminated in the outbreak at the Eureka stockade on 3 Dec. 1854, and reorganised the colonial finances and the method of dealing with the crown lands. The anxieties and labours of his office proved too much for his health, and he died at Melbourne on 31 Dec. 1855. Hotham married on 10 Dec. 1853, Jane Sarah, widow of Hugh Holbech, esq., and daughter of Samuel Hood, second Lord Bridport.
[Melbourne Argus; G. W. Rusden's Hist. of Australia.]
HOTHAM, DURANT (1617?–1691), biographer, was fifth son by his second marriage of Sir John Hotham [q. v.], of Scorborough, Yorkshire (Foster, Pedigrees of Yorkshire, vol. ii.) He was admitted to Christ's College, Cambridge, 7 May 1632, aged 15. He became involved in his father's disgrace, his letters and papers were seized (June 1643), and he was summoned to attend parliament.
