<P> The phrase hear him, hear him! was used in Parliament from late in the 17th century, and was reduced to hear! or hear, hear! by the late 18th century . The verb hear had earlier been used in the King James Bible as a command for others to listen . </P> <P> Other phrases have been derived from hear, hear, such as a hear, hear (a cheer), to hear - hear (to shout the expression), and hear - hearer (a person who does the same). </P> <P> The overuse of the phrase by an eager member of the House of Commons led Richard Brinsley Sheridan, in one speech, to deviate from his planned text and say "Where, oh where, shall we find a more foolish knave or a more knavish fool than this?". The eager Member of Parliament repeated "hear, hear ." </P>

Where did the phrase here here come from