Two photographs survive by Charles Negre of Lord Brougham and his entourage. The present salt print and a related work, an albumen print showing the people on a terrace, which is now in the Metropolitan Museum.

Henry Peter Brougham, first Baron Brougham and Vaux, born 19th September 1778, Edinburgh, Scotland, died 7th May 1868, Cannes, France.

The first Lord Brougham, founder of modern day Cannes, slave trade abolitionist, designer of the Brougham carriage, prominent lawyer, writer, scientist and radical orator. A colourful character with a strong personality and charisma who rose to prominence because of his defence of the then, Princess Caroline, later Queen Caroline, from her husband George IV, who essentially wanted to divorce her. The King wanted a divorce from Queen Caroline, who he hated and feared had committed adultery. The very public legal battle in 1820 saw Lord Brougham successfully defend the Queen from this challenge leading to him becoming a national figure.

In 1830, Henry Peter was made Lord Chancellor where he was made Baron Brougham, the first of 2 peerages bestowed upon him.

Brougham became a member of the Abolitionists fighting hard to finally end slavery. The bill saw an end to the slave trade, but not to slavery itself. The Abolitionists wanted Slavery abolished altogether and in 1833, shortly after the death of the former prime minister William Wilberforce, the act was passed.

A fierce politician he played a very active part in a number of areas, including education where he wanted to see this extended to all with the Public Education Act. He was a dominant member of a education select committee where he uncovered abuses in private educational administration. This led to an Act setting up a commission of investigation - this was the in essence the start of the modern day Charity Commission. He wanted to see the reform of the political system, the unjust proportion of seats with few voters (rotten constituencies), while others were truly unrepresentative for the population. He also wanted to see the under representation of seats from Scotland and Ireland addressed. As Lord Chancellor he steered through the great 1832 Reform Bill tripling the electorate. After 5 years in office, the now less popular Henry Peter Brougham lost his position as Lord Chancellor as the new Prime Minister, Peel, gave the job to Charles Pepys. The loss of office depressed Lord Brougham immensely.

In 1834 Lord Brougham set out with his daughter for Genoa in Italy. However an outbreak of cholera meant his route was blocked and he had to wait in Cannes for the quarantine order to be lifted. While staying at the Auberge Pinchinat he toured the small fishing port and its surrounding areas. He was hooked. He fell in love with the 'delightful climate of Provence, its clear skies and refreshing breezes' as he described it.

He bought a tract of land overlooking the sea and built Chateau Eleanore-Louise for his daughter in about 1836. Unfortunately his daughter died in 1839 and he decided to make the chateau his own. His high profile and prominent presence attracted others to the area. In 1836 he supported the building of the port. Cannes started to become fashionable as the English Gentry visited Lord Brougham. Later the Russians heard of the popularity and followed. Elegant and luxurious homes were built as Cannes became a sought after destination. Large hotels sprung up such as the Grande on the sea front to cater for the tourists. The first trains rolled into Cannes station in 1863; for many years Lord Brougham had campaigned for the building of a railway along the Cote d'Azur.

In 1848 Lord Brougham unsuccessfully applied for French citizenship and for a seat in the French National Assembly. It was in Cannes that Lord Brougham died in May 1868 while on a visit with his family. His brother decided he should be buried there rather than be brought back to England.