The Laughing Cavalier (novel) of Sir Percy Blakeney, known to history as the Scarlet Pimpernel." EMMUSKA ORCZY <br>Haarlem, 1913 The Laughing Cavalier (novel) The Laughing Cavalier is a 1913 adventure novel by Baroness Orczy, which revolves around Percy Blake, a foreign adventurer and ancestor of Orczy's famous character, the Scarlet Pimpernel. The story takes place in Holland in 1623/1624 and is partly inspired by Frans Hals' painting "The Laughing Cavalier": in the novel, Blake is Frans Hals' adopted son and the man who poses for the painting of the Laughing Cavalier. The sequel to this book, continuing the story of Percy Blake, is "The
William Blakeney, 1st Baron Blakeney William Blakeney, 1st Baron Blakeney Lieutenant-General William Blakeney, 1st Baron Blakeney KB (1671/167210 September 1761) was an Irish soldier known for his unsuccessful defence of the Spanish island of Menorca following the Battle of Menorca in 1756. Blakeney was born at Mount Blakeney, County Limerick, to William Blakeley, a member of the Irish House of Commons for Kilmallock, and Elizabeth (née Bowerman). Destined for politics, he showed a decided preference for a military career. At age 18, he headed the tenants in defending the Blakeney estate against the Rapparees. As a volunteer he fought the war in Flanders, and at