Lancelot Holland (British Army officer)
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Lancelot Holland, also Launcelot (1781–1859) was a British Army officer and diarist. In later life he went into business, and became a company director. He was also a noted bibliophile and collector..
He was a grandson of Lancelot Brown, the garden designer known as "Capability Brown"; his parents were the architect Henry Holland and Bridget Brown.[1] He went to Harrow School, where he overlapped with Henry Drury, entering the school in 1790 at age nine, and leaving in 1798.[2][3] He joined the army, possibly the 134th Foot.[4] In October 1798 he was an ensign in the 1st Foot Guards.[3]
In 1799 Holland accompanied Robert Craufurd who had been sent as military attaché on a mission in continental Europe, part of William Pitt's Grand Design for the War of the Second Coalition. Craufurd's other aide on this journey was William Proby, Lord Proby.[5][6] That year Holland was promoted to captain.[3] Craufurd married Holland's sister Mary Frances, in 1800.[7]
From around 1800 Holland was serving under Robert Brownrigg, who became Quartermaster-General to the Forces. Connections through his father's architectural work yielded him, in 1803, a visit as guest to Samuel Whitbread at Southill Park, and another to Lord Robert Spencer at Woolbeding House. In 1804 his duties took him to Ireland. On his return, he paid a call on Edmund Boyle, 8th Earl of Cork at Marston Bigot Park, where his father had recently been staying.[8] That year he was promoted to major.[3]
Buenos Aires expedition
Holland was, from 1805 to 1807, officially Permanent Assistant to the Quartermaster General.[9] He was on Robert Crauford's staff for the unsuccessful British invasion of the Spanish Empire's territory by the River Plate in 1807.[10] His staff duties included copying out John Whitelocke's orders for the surrender.[11] Holland commented on the composition – largely people of colour – of the force that had defeated them.[12]
The diary Holland kept remained in manuscript, and was put up for sale in 1954.[13] It has partly been published in Spanish translation, as Expedición al Río de la Plata.[14] A review called it "the best account of the assault of July 5."[15] The manuscript went to University College, London.[16]
