Oliver De Lancey Jr.

General Oliver De Lancey Jr. (c.1749–3 September 1822), also known as Oliver DeLancey and Oliver de Lancey, [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".] 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. [LondonGazette|issue=11914|startpage=3|date=29 September 1778|accessdate=2008-01-23] 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. [LondonGazette|issue=12231|startpage=1|date=6 October 1781|accessdate=2008-01-23] In 1790 he was appointed Deputy Adjutant-General in South Britain, [LondonGazette|issue=13220|startpage=458|date=20 July 1790|accessdate=2008-01-23] 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, [LondonGazette|issue=13614|startpage=53|date=14 January 1794|accessdate=2008-01-23] and he purchased the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 17th Light Dragoons in May 1794, [LondonGazette|issue=13653|startpage=426|date=13 May 1794|accessdate=2008-01-23] and later the same year was promoted Major-General. [LondonGazette|issue=13710|startpage=1010|endpage=1011|date=4 October 1794|accessdate=2008-01-23] He purchased the Colonelcy of the regiment in 1795. [LondonGazette|issue=13780|startpage=498|date=19 May 1795|accessdate=2008-01-23] He was promoted Lieutenant-General in 1801, but lost his position of Barrack-Master-General later that year [LondonGazette|issue=15752|startpage=1367|date=6 November 1804|accessdate=2008-01-23] 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. [LondonGazette|issue=16499|startpage=1172|date=25 June 1811|accessdate=2008-01-23] Despite this, he was promoted General in 1812. [LondonGazette|issue=16556|startpage=2498|date=28 December 1811|accessdate=2008-01-23]

For several years he represented Maidstone in Parliament.

Footnotes

References

*cite web|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/7436|title=‘Lancey, Oliver De (c.1749–1822)’|first=H. M.|last=Stephens|coauthors=revised: Bickham, Troy O.|work=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography|publisher=Oxford University Press|format=subscription required|year=2004; online edition January 2008|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/7436|accessdate=2008-01-23
*The On-Line Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies
*Bergen County Historical Society
*The On-Line National Counterintelligence Center