A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Holman, William

1754651A Naval Biographical Dictionary — Holman, WilliamWilliam Richard O'Byrne

HOLMAN. (Retired Captain, 1844.)

William Holman is brother of Lieuts. Jas. and Robt. Holman, R.N.; and first-cousin of Commander T. H. Holman, R.N.

This officer entered the Navy 30 Dec. 1790, and was Midshipman of the Royal George 100, flagship of Lord Bridport, in the action off Ile de Groix 23 June, 1795. Having attained the rank of Lieutenant by commission dated 26 Sept. 1797, and been appointed to the Regulus 44, Capt. Geo. Eyre we find him, in the course of that year, serving in the boats at the capture of several vessels fiom under the fort of Guadilla, on the island of Puerto Rico; and again, on 11 July, 1798, ably contributing to the cutting-out of three others, beneath an incessant fire from the batteries in Aguada Bay on the same island.[1] When afterwards in the London 98, flag-ship of Sir Hyde Parker, Mr. Holman was present at the victory achieved off Copenhagen 2 April, 1801. He obtained his second promotal commission 20 Feb. 1812, and accepted the rank of Captain 26 March, 1844.

Capt. Holman is married and has issue. His second daughter, Emily, is married to J. Kersey Esq;, of the Madras Medical Service. Agents – Pettet and Newton.


  1. Vide Gaz. 1798, p. 947.