Captain Sir Alexander Holburn, 3rd Baronet (alternatively Holborne or Holburne, d. January 22, 1772) was a Scottish

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 sea captain in the Royal Navy

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...

. He was the second son of the advocate Sir James Holburn, 2nd Baronet (grandson of Major General James Holborne of Menstrie

James Holborne of Menstrie

Major General Sir James Holborne of Menstrie was a Scottish soldier during the years of the English Civil War. Although he initially fought on the side of the English Parliament, he later became a senior officer in the Scottish Army, fighting against Cromwell...

) by his second wife Jean, the daughter of Alexander Spital of Leuchat, and succeeded to the baronet

Baronet

A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...

cy on the death of his father in 1758, his elder brother James, also a naval officer, having been killed at sea in 1756.

Naval career

Admiral Saunders, upon leaving the Mediterranean in 1757, took with him his chaplain, his flag captain

Flag captain

In the Royal Navy, a flag captain was the captain of an admiral's flagship. During the 18th and 19th centuries, this ship might also have a "captain of the fleet", who would be ranked between the admiral and the "flag captain" as the ship's "First Captain", with the "flag captain" as the ship's...

 Alexander Hood

Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport

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, and all six of his lieutenants, among whom was Alexander Holburn. The presence of Hood, a follower of Admiral Smith, and Holburn, illustrates the common practice among patrons of swapping recommendations. Holburn was promoted to the rank of Captain

Captain (nautical)

A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...

 in 1763.

Imprisonment

Before he could take command of his ship, Holburn was imprisoned for debt at the King's Bench Prison

King's Bench Prison

The King's Bench Prison was a prison in Southwark, south London, from medieval times until it closed in 1880. It took its name from the King's Bench court of law in which cases of defamation, bankruptcy and other misdemeanours were heard; as such, the prison was often used as a debtor's prison...

, Southwark

Southwark

Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...

, where he remained until shortly before his death. His wife, Maria Holburn, approached the Duke of Portland

William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland

William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, KG, PC was a British Whig and Tory statesman, Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Prime Minister. He was known before 1762 by the courtesy title Marquess of Titchfield. He held a title of every degree of British nobility—Duke,...

 in 1766, in the hope of securing Sir Alexander a position. Holburn died childless, and the baronetcy passed to his cousin Francis, son of Admiral Francis Holburn

Francis Holburne

Admiral Sir Francis Holburne was a Royal Navy officer who also served as a Member of Parliament.-Naval career:Francis entered the Navy in 1720 as a volunteer aboard , passing his examinations in 1725...

.