John Holloway (governor)
Encyclopedia
John Holloway was an officer of the Royal Navy
who saw service during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary
and Napoleonic Wars
, serving as Governor of Newfoundland
between 1807 and 1809.
Holloway was born on 15 January 1744 at Wells
, Somerset
, England
. He joined the Royal Navy in 1760, and visited Newfoundland with Governor Thomas Graves
the next year while serving aboard . He was promoted to lieutenant on 19 January 1771, in 1779 he became a commander, and in January 1780 he became a post-captain
. After serving during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary Wars, he was promoted to rear-admiral
on 14 February 1799, and became vice-admiral
on 25 October 1804.
In 1807, Holloway was appointed Governor of Newfoundland. Concerned about the treatment of the native Beothuk, he issued a proclamation against mistreating them on 30 July 1807, and offered rewards for information about atrocities. Holloway twice sent officers to the Bay of Exploits
to meet Beothuk, and also sent an expedition under William Cull.
Holloway allowed John Ryan to publish Newfoundland's first newspaper, the Royal Gazette, on condition that it would not contain anything "inflammatory against the Government of Great Britain", nor "sow dissension among the inhabitants of this island". A tradition
alist, Holloway reverted to the anti-settlement mentality of some past governors and forbade the use of land for cultivation.
In March 1809, the British parliament made permanent the island's courts of judicature, and re-annexed Labrador
to Newfoundland, largely as a result of Holloway's lobbying. He left Newfoundland in October 1809. He was promoted admiral of the blue the same month, and the next year was made admiral of the white. He died in Wells at the age of eighty on 26 June 1826.
, and Sarah Lyons. This union produced four children:
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
who saw service during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
and Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, serving as Governor of Newfoundland
Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador is the viceregal representative in Newfoundland and Labrador of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly...
between 1807 and 1809.
Holloway was born on 15 January 1744 at Wells
Wells
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He joined the Royal Navy in 1760, and visited Newfoundland with Governor Thomas Graves
Thomas Graves, 1st Baron Graves
|-|-...
the next year while serving aboard . He was promoted to lieutenant on 19 January 1771, in 1779 he became a commander, and in January 1780 he became a post-captain
Post-Captain
Post-captain is an obsolete alternative form of the rank of captain in the Royal Navy.The term served to distinguish those who were captains by rank from:...
. After serving during the American War of Independence, and the French Revolutionary Wars, he was promoted to rear-admiral
Rear Admiral (Royal Navy)
Rear Admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It is immediately superior to Commodore and is subordinate to Vice Admiral. It is a two-star rank and has a NATO ranking code of OF-7....
on 14 February 1799, and became vice-admiral
Vice Admiral (Royal Navy)
Vice admiral is a flag officer rank of the British Royal Navy. It equates to the NATO rank code OF-8 and is immediately superior to rear admiral and is subordinate to the full admiral rank.The Royal Navy has had vice admirals since at least the 16th century...
on 25 October 1804.
In 1807, Holloway was appointed Governor of Newfoundland. Concerned about the treatment of the native Beothuk, he issued a proclamation against mistreating them on 30 July 1807, and offered rewards for information about atrocities. Holloway twice sent officers to the Bay of Exploits
Bay of Exploits
The Bay of Exploits is a large bay in the northeast of Newfoundland. It extends from the mouth of the Exploits River and opens on to Notre Dame Bay to the north. It is approximately 1,000 square kilometers The Bay of Exploits is a large bay in the northeast of Newfoundland. It extends from the...
to meet Beothuk, and also sent an expedition under William Cull.
Holloway allowed John Ryan to publish Newfoundland's first newspaper, the Royal Gazette, on condition that it would not contain anything "inflammatory against the Government of Great Britain", nor "sow dissension among the inhabitants of this island". A tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
alist, Holloway reverted to the anti-settlement mentality of some past governors and forbade the use of land for cultivation.
In March 1809, the British parliament made permanent the island's courts of judicature, and re-annexed Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
to Newfoundland, largely as a result of Holloway's lobbying. He left Newfoundland in October 1809. He was promoted admiral of the blue the same month, and the next year was made admiral of the white. He died in Wells at the age of eighty on 26 June 1826.
Family
Holloway was married to Elizabeth Walrond (d.1838), daughter of Maine Swete Walrond, 5th Marqués de ValladoMarquis de Vallado
The title Marquis de Vallado is a Spanish title bestowed upon Humphrey Walrond on August 5, 1653 by King Philip IV of Spain.Humphrey Walrond was a distinguished Royalist commander, and subsequent Governor of Barbados...
, and Sarah Lyons. This union produced four children:
- Clementina (1782–1851), wife of Admiral Sir Robert Waller Otway, 1st BaronetRobert OtwayAdmiral Sir Robert Waller Otway, 1st Baronet, GCB was a senior Royal Navy officer of the early nineteenth century who served extensively as a sea captain during the Napoleonic War and later supported the Brazilian cause during the Brazilian War of Independence...
- Sarah Emma Orde (died 1870)
- William Henry Hotham (died 1802)
- Anne Wallace (died 1873)