Robert Hollond
Encyclopedia
Robert Hollond was an English
balloonist and politician. He funded and then took part in establishing a distance ballooning record with Thomas Monck Mason
and Charles Green
. He later served as a Whig politician representing the constituency of Hastings
.
, a professional balloonist and aeronaut planned the record attempt which set out from Vauxhall Gardens
in London on 7 November 1836 at 1:30 p.m. Holland, Green and Thomas Monck Mason travelled 500 miles in eighteen hours.
In 1836, Thomas Monck Mason wrote an Account of the Late æronautical Expedition from London to Weilburg which detailed the journey. This book was dedicated to Hollond.
The commemorative painting (illustration, left) that shows a consultation before the journey is by John Hollins
who later became an Associate of the Royal Academy
. The painting portrays, from left to right, Walter Prideaux
a lawyer friend, John Hollins
who painted the portraits, William Milbourne James
, later Lord Chief Justice, Charles Green
the balloonist, Thomas Monck Mason
, the other passenger, and Hollond at the centre.
Besides the painting and the book, the humorous poet Thomas Hood
also wrote a comic poem to celebrate the epic journey to Nassau
. The Ode to Messrs Green, Hollond and Monck on their late Balloon Adventure, includes the following lines
Two legged high fliers
What upper stories you must have to tell
And nobody can contradict you well
Or call you liars
In 1837, Hollond served as a Whig politician representing the constituency of Hastings
. According to official parliamentary records, Holland served from 1837 until 1852 , but he didn't speak for nearly his first ten years in the House of Commons. Hollond bought Stanmore Hall in Middlesex
in 1847. This house had previously belonged to his father-in-law, Thomas Teed, but had been resited in order that the views could be improved.
Hollond married Ellen Julia Teed in 1840 who was an author and philanthropist. She gave a painting to the National Gallery. The liberals of the time attended her salon in Paris. Ellen Holland's portrait in the National Gallery, London
, entitled "Mrs Robert Hollond", is by the French academic painter, Ary Scheffer
. Ellen Julia Hollond was said to be the founder of London's first crèche
.
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...
balloonist and politician. He funded and then took part in establishing a distance ballooning record with Thomas Monck Mason
Thomas Monck Mason
Thomas Monck Mason was a flute player, writer and balloon aeronaut. He wrote concerning the balloon trip and on theology. He was impoverished after renting London theatres to stage opera.-Biography:...
and Charles Green
Charles Green (balloonist)
Charles Green was the United Kingdom's most famous balloonist of the 19th century. He experimented with coal gas as a cheaper and more readily available alternative to hydrogen for lifting power. His first ascent was in a coal gas balloon on 19 July 1821. He became a professional balloonist and...
. He later served as a Whig politician representing the constituency of Hastings
Hastings (UK Parliament constituency)
Hastings was a parliamentary constituency in Sussex. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until the 1885 general election, when its representation was reduced to one member....
.
Biography
Hollond was born in 1808 to William Hollond who was a wealthy civil sevant in Bengal. Holland studied law at Corpus Christ College in Cambridge and despite his enthusiasm for ballooning he had become a lawyer by 1834. Hollond channelled his ballooning interest into funding a record balloon attempt in 1836 by the experienced aeronaut, Charles Green. The record established stood for over thirty years after Hollins' death. Charles GreenCharles Green (balloonist)
Charles Green was the United Kingdom's most famous balloonist of the 19th century. He experimented with coal gas as a cheaper and more readily available alternative to hydrogen for lifting power. His first ascent was in a coal gas balloon on 19 July 1821. He became a professional balloonist and...
, a professional balloonist and aeronaut planned the record attempt which set out from Vauxhall Gardens
Vauxhall Gardens
Vauxhall Gardens was a pleasure garden, one of the leading venues for public entertainment in London, England from the mid 17th century to the mid 19th century. Originally known as New Spring Gardens, the site was believed to have opened before the Restoration of 1660 with the first mention being...
in London on 7 November 1836 at 1:30 p.m. Holland, Green and Thomas Monck Mason travelled 500 miles in eighteen hours.
In 1836, Thomas Monck Mason wrote an Account of the Late æronautical Expedition from London to Weilburg which detailed the journey. This book was dedicated to Hollond.
The commemorative painting (illustration, left) that shows a consultation before the journey is by John Hollins
John Hollins
John William Hollins MBE is a retired English footballer and manager. He was initially a midfielder who, later in his career, became an effective centre back.Hollins' son, Chris Hollins is the main sport presenter on BBC Breakfast....
who later became an Associate of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
. The painting portrays, from left to right, Walter Prideaux
Walter Prideaux
Walter Prideaux was a poet and lawyer. Prideuax rose to be clerk to Goldsmiths' Hall.-Biography:Walter Prideaux was born 15 April 1806 to Sarah and Walter Prideaux. He was born at Bearscombe near Kingbridge and Loddiswell...
a lawyer friend, John Hollins
John Hollins (artist)
John Hollins was a portrait painter who was based in London. His works are at the National Portrait Gallery. Hollins' painting planning a record breaking balloon trip includes the three balloonists Robert Hollond, Thomas Monck Mason and Charles Green and an image of Hollins...
who painted the portraits, William Milbourne James
William Milbourne James (judge)
Sir William Milbourne James was a British judge and Privy Councillor.-Life history:James was born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales in 1807 to Christopher James a prosperous provision merchant. His cousin was Charles Herbert James, who later became Member of Parliament for Merthyr Tydfil...
, later Lord Chief Justice, Charles Green
Charles Green (balloonist)
Charles Green was the United Kingdom's most famous balloonist of the 19th century. He experimented with coal gas as a cheaper and more readily available alternative to hydrogen for lifting power. His first ascent was in a coal gas balloon on 19 July 1821. He became a professional balloonist and...
the balloonist, Thomas Monck Mason
Thomas Monck Mason
Thomas Monck Mason was a flute player, writer and balloon aeronaut. He wrote concerning the balloon trip and on theology. He was impoverished after renting London theatres to stage opera.-Biography:...
, the other passenger, and Hollond at the centre.
Besides the painting and the book, the humorous poet Thomas Hood
Thomas Hood
Thomas Hood was a British humorist and poet. His son, Tom Hood, became a well known playwright and editor.-Early life:...
also wrote a comic poem to celebrate the epic journey to Nassau
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
. The Ode to Messrs Green, Hollond and Monck on their late Balloon Adventure, includes the following lines
Two legged high fliers
What upper stories you must have to tell
And nobody can contradict you well
Or call you liars
In 1837, Hollond served as a Whig politician representing the constituency of Hastings
Hastings (UK Parliament constituency)
Hastings was a parliamentary constituency in Sussex. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until the 1885 general election, when its representation was reduced to one member....
. According to official parliamentary records, Holland served from 1837 until 1852 , but he didn't speak for nearly his first ten years in the House of Commons. Hollond bought Stanmore Hall in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
in 1847. This house had previously belonged to his father-in-law, Thomas Teed, but had been resited in order that the views could be improved.
Hollond married Ellen Julia Teed in 1840 who was an author and philanthropist. She gave a painting to the National Gallery. The liberals of the time attended her salon in Paris. Ellen Holland's portrait in the National Gallery, London
National Gallery, London
The National Gallery is an art museum on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The gallery is an exempt charity, and a non-departmental public body of the Department for Culture, Media...
, entitled "Mrs Robert Hollond", is by the French academic painter, Ary Scheffer
Ary Scheffer
Ary Scheffer , French painter of Dutch and German extraction, was born in Dordrecht.-Life:After the early death of his father Johann Baptist, a poor painter, Ary's mother Cornelia, herself a painter and daughter of landscapist Arie Lamme, took him to Paris and placed him in the studio of...
. Ellen Julia Hollond was said to be the founder of London's first crèche
Nativity scene
A nativity scene, manger scene, krippe, crèche, or crib, is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke...
.