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The History of Quintin
Quintin Hogg
Birth: Feb. 14, 1845 Death: Jan. 17, 1903Quintin Hogg was the son of a Member of Parliament. He was born in London, educated at Eton, and went to work as a tea importer in a poor area of London. Later, he joined his brother-in-law's sugar business. He was so horrified by the poverty in the neighbourhood that he disguised himself as a shoeblack and worked nights in order to obtain a better idea of the conditions. He founded the first "ragged school" in Of Alley, near Charing Cross, teaching the crossing-sweepers to read; and, later, founded the Regent Street Polytechnic, now known as the University of Westminster. His bronze statue, by George Frampton, stands in Portland Place, near that building. In 1869, on one of many visits to the West Indies, Hogg caught yellow fever. He recovered from the infection, but the medicine he was prescribed contained mercury, and it ruined his health permanently. In spite of his English birth, Hogg was the captain of the Scottish football team in their first seven internationals against England (1864-1870). His son, Douglas Hogg (died 1950), became the first Viscount Hailsham and served three times as Attorney General ; his grandson, also Quintin (1903-2001) became the second Viscount Hailsham and was the Lord Chancellor in Mrs. Thatcher's administration.