Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Luard, John
LUARD, JOHN (1790–1875), lieutenant-colonel, author of the ‘History of the Dress of the British Soldier,’ was fourth son of Captain Peter John Luard of the 4th dragoons (now hussars) and of Blyborough, Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, and his wife Louisa, daughter of Charles Dalbiac of Hungerford Park, Berkshire. He was born on 5 May 1790, served in the royal navy 1802–7, and on 25 May 1809 obtained a cornetcy without purchase in his father's old regiment, with which he served through the Peninsular campaigns of 1810–14 (medal with clasp for ‘Albuera,’ ‘Salamanca,’ and ‘Toulouse’). Afterwards he served with the 16th light dragoons (now lancers) as lieutenant at Waterloo (medal), and as captain at Bhurtpore in 1825 (medal). He exchanged to the 30th foot in 1832, retired as major in 1834, and obtained a brevet lieutenant-colonelcy in 1838. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel William Scott, H.E.I.C.S., by whom he had a family. He died on 24 Oct. 1875.
Like others of his family, Luard had much artistic talent. He published ‘Views in India, St. Helena, and Car Nicobar’ (London, 1835, fol.), drawn from nature and on stone by himself, and ‘History of the Dress of the British Soldier,’ a handsome quarto, published by subscription in 1852, which includes some interesting original sketches of military characters and costume in the Peninsular days.
His second son, John Dalbiac Luard (1830–1860), born at Blyborough on 31 Oct. 1830, was educated at Sandhurst, appointed ensign without purchase in the 63rd in 1848, and transferred to the 82nd foot. After obtaining his lieutenancy in 1853, he left the service to devote himself to art, and studied for a time under John Phillip, R.A. He exhibited his first picture at the Academy in 1855, ‘A Church Door.’ He spent the winter of 1855–6 in the Crimea with his brother, Major, afterwards Lieutenant-general, Luard, C.B., then on the headquarters staff before Sebastopol. In 1857 he exhibited a Crimean subject, ‘The Welcome Arrival,’ which, well engraved, had some popularity, and two others in 1858. His health broke down soon afterwards, and he died at Winterslow, near Salisbury, on 9 Aug. 1860. In spite of hard work he had not been able to acquire the necessary technical training, but his painting showed much promise.
[Burke's Landed Gentry, 1886 ed., under ‘Luard;’ Army Lists; Brit. Mus. Cat. Printed Books; Preface to Hist. of the Dress of the British Soldier, London, 1852; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Critic, March 1861, pp. 317–18.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.186
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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