A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Holbech, George

1753380A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Holbech, GeorgeWilliam Richard O'Byrne

HOLBECH. (Commander, 1830. f-p., 13; h-p., 28.)

George Holbech, born 24 Dec. 1793, is son of the late Wm. Holbech, Esq., of Mollington, M.P. for Banbury from 1792 to 1796, by Anne, daughter of Wm. Woodhouse, Esq., M.D., of Lichfield; and uncle of the present Sir John Mordaunt, Bart., M.P., of Walton, near Stratford-on-Avon. One of his brothers, Edward, is an officer in the Army.

This officer entered the Navy, 19 Aug. 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Spencer 74, Captain (afterwards Rear-Admiral) Hon. Robt. Stopford. In Aug. 1807, on his return from the Cape of Good Hope, he accompanied the expedition to Copenhagen; and from Jan. 1809 (11 months previously to which period he had attained the rating of Midshipman) until Nov. of the same year we find him stationed off the north coast of Spain in the Amazon 38, Capt. Wm. Parker. He then rejoined Rear-Admiral Stopford on board the Scipion 74, and, continuing to serve with that officer for upwards of three years in the same ship, and in the Lion 64, and President 38, was present with him, in the former, at the reduction of Java in 1811. From July, 1813, until Aug. 1814, he was further employed on board the Stately 64, and Rodney 74, bearing each the flag of Vice-Admiral Geo. Martin on the Lisbon station, where he was created a Lieutenant of the last-mentioned ship by commission dated 16 June, 1814. His succeeding appointments were – in Oct. 1814, to the Clorinde 40, Capt. Sam. Geo. Pechell, fitting for the purpose of attending the Princess of Wales during her visit to the Mediterranean, whence he returned in July, 1816 – and, 9 Nov. 1823, to the Menai 26, Capt. Houston Stewart, with whom he served on the Halifax station until paid off; about Jan. 1827. He assumed his present rank 22 July, 1830, but has not been since afloat.

Commander Holbech married, 2 June, 1846, Ellen Catherine, eldest daughter of Chas. M. Bicketts, Esq., of Alverton, Stratford-on-Avon.