Thomas Hobson
Thomas Hobson (* 1544 ; † January 1, 1631 ), sometimes called the "Courier of Cambridge", is best known for the expression Hobson's choice .
As a courier from Cambridge , he was in charge of the mail between London and Cambridge and owned a stall outside the gates of St Catharine's College . When his horses were not needed for the mail, they were loaned out to students and professors at the university .
Hobson quickly found that his best and fastest horses were the most popular and therefore often overworked. To prevent further exhaustion of his best horses, Hobson introduced a strict rotation system that only allowed the customer to take the next horse in order. This "this or none" policy has come to be known as Hobson's choice when an apparent choice is in fact not a choice.
The poet John Milton popularized both Hobson and the term.
Hobson is also remembered for his involvement in the construction of Hobson's Conduit . This is an artificial watercourse built in 1614 that provides Cambridge with clean drinking water. Hobson was one of the main benefactors of the new watercourse. The Hobson's Conduit is alternatively known as Hobson's Brook .
Web links
- Hobson's choice (English)
- Painting by Hobson
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Hobson, Thomas |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Courier from Cambridge |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British courier |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1544 |
| DATE OF DEATH | January 1, 1631 |