Thomas Hobson (1544?-1631), sometimes called "The Cambridge Carrier," is best known as the name behind the expression Hobson's choice. Events April 11 - Battle of Ceresole - French forces under the Comte dEnghien defeat Imperial forces under the Marques Del Vasto near Turin. ... // Events February 5 - Roger Williams emigrates to Boston. ... Hobsons Choice is a play by Harold Brighouse, the title coming from the popular expression, Hobsons choice — meaning no choice at all. ...

A carrier from Cambridge, England, Hobson delivered mail between London and Cambridge, operating a livery stable outside the gates of St Catharine's College. When they were not needed to deliver mail, Hobson's horses were rented to students and faculty from the university. Postbox redirects here. ... Map of the Cambridgeshire area (1904) The city of Cambridge is an old English university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... The Houses of Parliament and the clock tower containing Big Ben Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the capital of the United Kingdom and England. ... Full name Collegium sive aula D. Catharinæ in Universitate Cantabrigiensi Motto   Do it for the wheel! (unofficial) Named after St Catharine of Alexandria Previous names Katharine Hall (1473-1860) Established 1473 Sister College(s) Worcester College Master Prof. ... The University of Cambridge, located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world. ...

Hobson soon discovered that his best (and fastest) horses were the most popular, and overworked. To prevent further exhaustion of his best horses, Hobson devised a strict rotation system, only allowing customers to rent the next horse in line. His policy, "this one or none," has come to be known as "Hobson's choice," when an apparent choice is in fact no choice at all. The term originated in the mid-seventeenth century. [1]

The poet John Milton popularized both Hobson and the phrase, twice commemorating him in epitaphs, and in issue 509 of Addison and Steele's The Spectator from 1712. John Milton, English poet John Milton (December 9, 1608 – November 8, 1674) was an English poet, best-known for his epic poem Paradise Lost. ... Joseph Addison, the Kit-cat portrait, circa 1703–1712, by Godfrey Kneller. ... Other persons called Richard Steele include Richard Steele, the boxing referee, and Richard Steele, the American magican and illusionist. ... The Spectator was a daily publication of 1711‑14, founded by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele. ...

In addition to his contribution to English vernacular, Hobson is also remembered for his involvement in the construction of Hobson's Brook, a man-made watercourse built in 1614 to provide clean drinking water to the city of Cambridge. Hobson was one of the primary benefactors of the new stream. [2] Hobson's Brook is alternatively known as Hobson's Conduit. [3] The vernacular is the native language of a country or locality. ...

Hobson bought Anglesey Priory in 1625 and converted it into a country house, which under the name Anglesey Abbey, now belongs to the National Trust. The house at Anglesey Abbey Anglesey Abbey is a country house, formerly a priory, in the village of Lode, 5 Â½ miles (8. ... Events March 27 - Prince Charles Stuart becomes King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland. ... The standard of the National Trust The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as The National Trust, is a British preservation organization. ...

External links

• Dictionary.com's Word of the Day, Dec. 23, 2003
• Portrait of Thomas Hobson, Oil on Canvas.