Career
His family were prominent in Lincolnshire during the 18th and 19th Centuries. Handley was the third son of William Handley of Newark. He entered the army in 1805 and served in the 9th Light Dragoons in South America and in the Peninsula war.
In 1813, whilst crossing the Tagus river, his boat capsized.
After returning to England Handley lived at Pointon, Lincolnshire. Handley died at Pointon at the age of 74.