Hollis (John), English sceptic, b. 1757. Author of Sober and Serious Reasons for Scepticism, 1796; An Apology for Disbelief in Revealed Religion, 1799; and Free Thoughts, 1812. Died at High Wycombe, Bucks 26 Nov. 1824. Hollis, who came of an opulent dissenting family, was distinguished by his love of truth, his zeal in the cause of freedom, and by his beneficence.
Holmes (William Vamplew), one of Carlile’s brave shopmen who came up from Leeds to uphold the right of free publication. He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, 1 March, ’22, for selling blasphemous and seditious libels in An Address to the Reformers of Great Britain, and when in prison was told that “if hard labor was not expressed in his sentence, it was implied.” On his release Holmes went to Sheffield and commenced the open sale of all the prohibited publications.
Holwell (John Zephaniah), noted as one of the survivors of the Black Hole of Calcutta, b. Dublin, 7 Sept. 1711. He practised as a surgeon, went to India as a clerk, defended a fort at Calcutta against Surajah Dowlah, was imprisoned with one hundred and forty-five others in the “Black Hole,” 20th June, 1756, of which he published a Narrative. He succeeded Clive as governor of Bengal. On returning to England he published a dissertation directed against belief in a special providence, and advocating the application of church endowments to the exigencies of the State (Bath, 1786). Died 5 Nov. 1798.
Holyoake (Austin), English Freethinker, b. Birmingham, 27 Oct. 1826. His mental emancipation came from hearing the lectures of Robert Owen and his disciples. He took part in the agitation for the abolition of the newspaper stamp—assisting when risk and danger had to be met—and he co-operated with his brother in the production of the Reasoner and other publications from ’45 till ’62. Soon after this he printed and sub-edited the National Reformer, in which many of his Freethought articles appeared. Among his pamphlets may be mentioned Heaven and Hell, Ludicrous Aspects of Christianity, Thoughts on Atheism, the Book of Esther, and Daniel the Dreamer. He also composed a Secular Burial Service. Austin Holyoake took pride in the character of Freethought, and was ever zealous in promoting its welfare. His amiable spirit endeared him to all who knew him. He died 10 April, 1874, leaving behind thoughts written on his deathbed, in which he repudiated all belief in theology.
Holyoake (George Jacob), b. Birmingham, 13 April 1817. Became mathematical teacher of the Mechanics’ Institution. Influenced by Combe and Owen he became a Freethinker, and in ’40 a Socialist missionary. In ’42, when Southwell was imprisoned for writing in the Oracle of Reason, Mr. Holyoake took charge of that journal, and wrote The Spirit of Bonner in the Disciples of Jesus. He was soon arrested for a speech at Cheltenham, having said, in answer to a question, that he would put the Deity on half-pay. Tried Aug. ’42, he was sentenced to six months imprisonment, of which he gave a full account in his Last Trial by Jury for Atheism in England. In Dec. ’43 he edited with M. Q. Ryall the Movement, bearing the motto from Bentham, “Maximise morals, minimise religion.” The same policy was pursued in The Reasoner, which he edited from 1846 till 1861. Among his many pamphlets we must notice the Logic of Death, ’50, which went through numerous editions, and was included in his most important Freethought work, The Trial of Theism. In ’49 he published a brief memoir of R. Carlile. In ’51 he first used the term “Secularist,” and in Oct. ’52 the first Secular Conference was held at Manchester Mr. Holyoake presiding. In Jan. ’53 he held a six nights discussion with the Rev. Brewin Grant, and again in Oct. ’54. He purchased the business of James Watson, and issued many Freethought works, notably The Library of Reason—a series, The Cabinet of Reason, his own Secularism, The Philosophy of the People, etc. In ’60 he was Secretary to the British Legion sent out to Garibaldi. Mr. Holyoake did much to remove the taxes upon knowledge, and has devoted much attention to Co-operation, having written a history of the movement and contributed to most of its journals.
Home (Henry), Scottish judge, was b. 1696. His legal ability was made known by his publication of Remarkable Decisions of the Court of Session, 1728. In 1752 he was raised to the bench as Lord Kames. He published Essays on the Principles of Morality and Natural Religion (1751), Elements of Criticism (1762), and Sketches of the History of Man, in which he proved himself in advance of his age. Died 27 Dec. 1782.
Hon, Le (Henri). See [Le Hon].
Hooker (Sir Joseph Dalton), English naturalist, b. 1817. He studied medicine at Glasgow, graduating M.D ’39. In ’55 he became assistant-director of Kew Gardens, and from ’65–85 sole director. Renowned as a botanist, he was the first eminent man of science to proclaim his adoption of Darwinism.
Hope (Thomas), novelist and antiquarian, b. 1770. Famous for his anonymous Anastasius, or Memories of a Modern Greek, he also wrote an original work on The Origin and Prospects of Man ’31. Died at London 3 Feb. 1831.
Houten (Samuel van), Dutch Freethinker, b. Groningen. 17 Feb. 1837; he studied law and became a lawyer in that city. In ’69 he was chosen member of the Dutch Parliament. Has published many writings on political economy. In ’88 he wrote a book entitled Das Causalitätgesetz (The Law of Causality).