Samuel Whitbread

Samuel Whitbread (1758 - June 6, 1815) was an English politician.

Whitbread was the son of the brewer Samuel Whitbread. He was educated at Eton College, Christ Church, Oxford and St John's College, Cambridge, after which he embarked on a European 'Grand Tour', visiting Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Prussia, France and Italy. He returned to England in May 1786 and joined his father's successful brewing business.

He was elected Member of Parliament for Bedford in 1790, a post he held for eight years. A campaigner for the abolition of slavery.

He was a close friend and colleague of Charles James Fox. After Fox's death, Whitbread took over the leadership of the Whigs, and in 1805 led the campaign to have Henry Dundas, Viscount Melville, removed from office.

In 1815 Whitbread began to suffer from depression, and on the morning of 6 June, he committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor.