Sir Alexander Holburn, 3rd Baronet explained

Honorific Prefix:Sir
Alexander Holburn
Honorific Suffix:Bt
Birth Date:1728
Death Date:22 January 1772
Allegiance:Kingdom of Great Britain
Branch:Royal Navy
Serviceyears:1753–1763
Rank:Captain
Commands:HMS Polacca
HMS Lynx
HMS Repulse
Battles:Seven Years' War

Captain Sir Alexander Holburn, 3rd Baronet (c. 1728 – January 22, 1772)[1] (alternatively Holborne or Holburne) was a Scottish sea captain in the Royal Navy. He was the second son of the advocate Sir James Holburn, 2nd Baronet (grandson of Major General James Holborne of Menstrie) by his second wife Jean, the daughter of Alexander Spital of Leuchat. Alexander succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his father in 1758 when he was killed at sea in 1756.[2]

Naval career

Admiral Saunders, upon leaving the Mediterranean in 1757, took with him his chaplain, his flag captain Alexander Hood, and all six of his lieutenants, among whom was Alexander Holburn. Holburn was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1763.[2]

Imprisonment

Before he could take command of his ship, Holburn was imprisoned for debt at the King's Bench Prison, Southwark, where he remained until shortly before his death.[2] His wife, Maria Holburn, approached the Duke of Portland in 1766, in the hope of securing for Alexander a position.[3] Holburn died childless, and the baronetcy passed to his cousin, Francis Holburn, 4th Baronet, son of Admiral Francis Holburn.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Charnock, J., Biographia Navalis, 6 vols, 1794-98
  2. Web site: A97: Captain William Holburne . . 2008-10-29.
  3. Web site: Part 10: Edmund, Baron de Harold - Admiral W. Hotham . Catalogue of Papers of William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland . . 2008-10-29.