Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Landmann, Isaac

by Robert Hamilton Vetch

LANDMANN, ISAAC (1741–1829?), professor of artillery and fortification, born in 1741, held for some years an appointment at the Royal Military School in Paris. Although he retired on the reorganisation of the school, he continued to live in Paris, and made an incomeof about 300l. per annum by teaching the our French nobility the art of war. On 25 Nov. 1777 he assumed the appointment of professor of artillery and fortification at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich at the invitation of George III. A letter from the board of ordnance, dated 25 Nov. 1777, introducing in him to the lieutenant-governor of the Woolwich Academy, described him as a gentleman who ‘has seen a great deal of service and acted as aide-de-camp to Marshal Broglis in the law war.’ His salary was 494l. per annum with a house. On 1 July 1815 he retired, after thirty-eight years' successful service, on a pension of 500l. per annum, granted him 1by the prince regent. He left a son, George Thomas Landmann [q. v.], who was an officer in the royal engineers.

Landmann was author of:

1. 'Elements of Tactics and Introduction to Military Evolutions for the Infantry, by a celebrated Prussian General [Saltern], translated from the original by I. L.,’ 8vo, London, 1787.
2. ‘Practical Geometry for the use of the Royal Military Academy at Wolwich,’ 8vo, London, 1798; 2nd ed. 1805.
3. ‘The Field Engineers Vade Mecum, with Plans,’ 8vo, London, 1802.
4. ‘The Principles of Fortification reduced into Questions and Answers for the use of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich,’ 8vo, London, 1806.
5. ‘The Construction of several Systems of Fortification,' 8vo, London, with plates, vol. 1807.
6. ‘The Principles of Artillery reduced into Questions an Answers for the use of the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich,' 2nd ed., with considerable additions and improvements, 8vo, London, 1808.
7. ‘Muller's Attack and Defence of Places' 4th ed. 8vo, London.
8. ‘A Course of an Five Orders of Architecture,' fol. London.
9. ‘A Treatise on Mines for the use of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich,' 8vo, London, 1815.
10. ‘The Principles of Fortification,' 5th ed. 8vo, London, 1821.

Records of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, 4to, 1851.]

R. H. V.