Oliver De Lancey Jr.

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General Oliver De Lancey Jr. (c.1749–3 September 1822), also known as Oliver DeLancey and Oliver de Lancey,^[1] was a British Army officer.

He was the son of Major General Oliver De Lancey Sr. and was educated at Eton.

He purchased a Cornetcy in the 14th Dragoons in 1766 and a Lieutenantcy in 1770. In 1773 he purchased a Captaincy in the 17th Light Dragoons. He was General Gage's aide-de-camp and was accused of striking Nathaniel Woodhull after his surrender. He purchased a Majority in 1778.^[2] He was the head of British intelligence based in New York. In 1781 he was appointed Adjutant-General of the Forces in North America, replacing John André, and promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army.^[3] In 1790 he was appointed Deputy Adjutant-General in South Britain,^[4] and later the same year was promoted Colonel in the Army. In 1792 he became Superintendent-General of Barracks. In January 1794 he was appointed Barrack-Master-General to HM Forces,^[5] and he purchased the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 17th Light Dragoons in May 1794,^[6] and later the same year was promoted Major-General.^[7] He purchased the Colonelcy of the regiment in 1795.^[8] He was promoted Lieutenant-General in 1801, but lost his position of Barrack-Master-General later that year^[9] when irregularities were found in his accounts. He was found to not be criminally liable for the missing monies, but had to pay a large sum to the Crown in recompense. To raise this money he was forced to sell his estate.^[10] Despite this, he was promoted General in 1812.^[11]

For several years he represented Maidstone in Parliament.

[edit] Footnotes

^ The name is spelt "De Lancey" in all the contemporary London Gazette entries relating to his promotions etc. and in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
^ London Gazette: no. 11914, page 3, 29 September 1778. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
^ London Gazette: no. 12231, page 1, 6 October 1781. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
^ London Gazette: no. 13220, page 458, 20 July 1790. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
^ London Gazette: no. 13614, page 53, 14 January 1794. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
^ London Gazette: no. 13653, page 426, 13 May 1794. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
^ London Gazette: no. 13710, pages 1010–1011, 4 October 1794. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
^ London Gazette: no. 13780, page 498, 19 May 1795. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
^ London Gazette: no. 15752, page 1367, 6 November 1804. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
^ London Gazette: no. 16499, page 1172, 25 June 1811. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
^ London Gazette: no. 16556, page 2498, 28 December 1811. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.

[edit] References

Stephens, H. M.; revised: Bickham, Troy O. (2004; online edition January 2008). ‘Lancey, Oliver De (c.1749–1822)’ (subscription required). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. DOI:10.1093/ref:odnb/7436. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
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