Henry Hozier

Henry Montague Hozier was born on 20 March 1838 in Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the third surviving son of James Hozier of Newlands and Mauldslie Castle, and Catherine Margaret Feilden, the daughter of Sir William Feilden. His elder brother, William Hozier, was created a baronet in 1890 and was later elevated to the peerage as Baron Newlands in 1898.

Hozier received his education at Rugby School, Edinburgh Academy, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He initially served in the Royal Artillery as a lieutenant, then as a lieutenant in the 2nd Life Guards, and subsequently as a captain in the 3rd Dragoon Guards. He attended and graduated from the Staff College, Camberley, successively entering and leaving the institution.

His military service encompassed several notable campaigns and roles. He served with the Royal Artillery during the expedition to Peking, participated in the War of 1866 with the German Army, served as assistant military secretary to Sir Robert Napier during the Abyssinian expedition, and acted as assistant military attaché during the Franco-Prussian War. He was awarded the Iron Cross for his involvement in the Franco-Prussian War. Hozier was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1897 and was promoted to Knight Commander of the Bath in 1903.

Following his retirement from the military, Hozier transitioned into the business sector. In 1872, he joined the Board of the Patent Cotton-Gunpowder Company. Two years later, in 1874, he was elected secretary of Lloyd's of London, a position he held for thirty-two years. His military background contributed to his efforts in establishing a network of signal stations to improve maritime communications. In an 1895 interview, he described the development of these stations, which were strategically located on isolated coastal points worldwide, interconnected via cable and wire, and intended to facilitate early intelligence on shipping and news.

Hozier was also involved as colonel-commandant of the Royal Arsenal Artillery Volunteers. He authored works on military history, including *The Seven Weeks' War*, concerning the 1866 conflict, and a *History of the British Expedition to Abyssinia*. His residences included Stonehouse in Lanarkshire and a property at 26A North Audley Street, London. He held memberships in various clubs, such as the Turf, Junior United Service, City, Beefsteak Clubs in London, the New Club in Edinburgh, the Western Club in Glasgow, and the Royal Northern, Royal Clyde, and Temple Yacht Clubs.

Hozier married Lady Blanche Ogilvy, daughter of David Ogilvy, 10th Earl of Airlie, in 1873. The marriage produced four children: Kitty Ogilvy Hozier, Clementine Ogilvy Spencer-Churchill—who later married Sir Winston Churchill—Lieutenant-Commander William James Ogilvy Hozier, and Nellie Margaret Ogilvy Hozier. The paternity of the children has been a subject of historical speculation, with some sources suggesting that Bertram Freeman-Mitford, 1st Baron Redesdale, may have been their biological father, owing to Hozier's reported sterility and his strained relationship with Lady Blanche, who was known to have had extramarital affairs.

Henry Montague Hozier died on 28 February 1907 while visiting a signal station site in Panama.