Henry Brand

Henry Bouverie William Brand (27 January 1814 - 7 March 1892), Speaker of the British House of Commons 1872-84, was the second son of the 21st Baron Dacre, and was a descendant of the 17th century English revolutionary MP John Hampden. A Liberal, he was MP for Lewes 1852-68, and for Cambridgeshire 1868-84. Before becoming Speaker he was Liberal Chief Whip. He was the first Speaker to have to deal with systematic obstruction of the business of the House, a tactic introduced by the Irish Nationalist Party. In February 1881 this led to the formal introduction of the "closure" or "gag" into parliamentary procedure. Brand was created Viscount Hampden in 1884, and he also succeeded his bother as 23rd Baron Dacre in 1890.