Frederic Boase
Modern English Biography (volume 1 of 4) A-H
BLAKE, Edward Samuel. Colonel in Bombay artillery 29 May 1861 to death; C.B. 21 March 1859. d. 18 Princes sq. Bayswater, London 26 June 1862 aged 51.
BLAKE, Sir Francis, 3 Baronet. b. Heston, Middlesex 1774; succeeded 22 May 1818; M.P. for Berwick 29 March 1827 to 29 Dec. 1834. d. 10 Sep. 1860.
BLAKE, Frederick Rodolph (son of Wm. Blake of Danesbury who d. 24 Nov. 1852). b. 15 Aug. 1808; ensign 85 Foot 30 June 1825; lieut. col. 33 Foot 3 Oct. 1848 to death; served at battle of the Alma and before Sebastopol; C.B. 5 July 1855. d. Rottingdean, Sussex 23 Aug. 1855.
BLAKE, Rev. George Bannerman. b. Aberdeen; ed. at Marischal college Aberdeen; studied theology at New college Edinburgh; M.A. 1854; licensed by Presbytery of Edin. 1855; assistant pastor of St. George’s presbyterian church Sunderland July 1856, junior minister 9 July 1857 to death, ordained 9 July 1857; founded Ropery lane mission, Sunderland March 1859. d. Sunderland 29 Aug. 1863 aged 32. A memorial sketch of the late Rev. G. B. Blake with a selection from his sermons 1864, portrait.
BLAKE, George Charles. Entered navy 2 July 1799; inspecting commander in Coast Guard 1832–35; captain 28 June 1838; gentleman usher to Prince Albert 1841; retired captain 15 Oct. 1852; retired admiral 10 Sep. 1869. d. Bury near Gosport 14 Nov. 1872 aged 84.
BLAKE, Sir Henry Charles, 4 Baronet. b. 23 Nov. 1794; succeeded 21 April 1832. d. Ashfield lodge, Great Ickworth, Suffolk 22 Jany. 1880.
BLAKE, Martin Joseph (elder son of Walter Blake of Ballyglunin park, Athenry, co. Galway). b. 1790; M.P. for co. Galway 1833–57. d. Ballyglunin park March 1861.
BLAKE, Patrick John (2 son of Sir James Henry Blake, 3 baronet who d. 21 April, 1832). b. 1797; entered navy April 1813; captain 6 May 1841; commanded the Juno 26 guns in the Pacific 3 Sep. 1845 to 14 Feb. 1849; admiral on h.p. 20 Oct. 1872. d. Thurston, Bury St. Edmunds 29 Sep. 1884.
BLAKE, Sir Thomas Edward, 13 Baronet. b. Killagh, co. Galway 25 May 1805; succeeded Jany. 1847. d. 2 Jany. 1875.
BLAKE, William. Bought estate of Danesbury near Welwyn Herts. 1820; sheriff of Herts. 1836; formed a valuable collection of modern water colour paintings; F.R.S. 14 May 1807. d. Danesbury 24 Nov. 1852 aged 78.
BLAKE, William Hume (son of Rev. Dominick Edward Blake, R. of Kiltegan, co. Wicklow). b. Kiltegan 10 March 1809; ed. at Trin. coll. Dublin; emigrated to Canada and settled in township of Adelaide 1832; called to Canadian bar 1835; a bencher of Canadian law society Nov. 1845; solicitor general 1848; chancellor of Upper Canada 30 Sep. 1849 to 1862; judge of court of appeal; chancellor of Univ. of Toronto; professor of law in Univ. of Toronto. d. Toronto 15 Nov. 1870. Law Journal vi, 23–24 (1871).
BLAKE, William John (eld. son of Wm. Blake of Danesbury, Herts, who d. 24 Nov. 1852). b. 12 May 1805; ed. at Ch. Ch. Ox.; double first class 1826, B.A. 1827, M.A. 1829; barrister L.I. 10 June 1831; M.P. for Newport, Isle of Wight 26 July 1837 to 23 June 1841, defeated by one vote only 31 July 1847; F.R.S. 20 Jany. 1831. d. Danesbury 15 Sep. 1875.
BLAKE, William Williams. Cornet 20 Dragoons 26 April 1797; major 21 March 1805 to Dec. 1818 when placed on h.p.; C.B. 4 June 1815. d. Brighton 21 Feb. 1863 aged 83.
BLAKELY, Rev. Fletcher (youngest son of Joseph Bleakly of Ballyroney, co. Down, farmer). b. Ballyroney 13 May 1783; ed. at Glasgow college; Presbyterian minister of Moneyrea, co. Down 19 Sep. 1809; the first avowed humanitarian preacher in Ulster from which arose the proverb ‘Moneyrea, where there is one God and no devil’; joined with his whole congregation the remonstrant secession from the Synod of Ulster 1829; assisted Henry Montgomery leader of the New Light party in forming remonstrant synod; joint editor of the Bible Christian 1830–33; resigned ministry of Moneyrea 22 Sep. 1857; author of several tracts and sermons, d. Cradley, Worcestershire 25 Feb. 1862. bur. at Moneyrea. Inquirer 15 March 1862; Christian Unitarian (1862), p. 123.
BLAKELY, Very Rev. Theophilus. Educ. at Trin. coll. Cam., B.A. 1794; alternate morning preacher at Berkeley and Fitzroy chapels London; dean of Connor 4 May 1811 to 6 Dec. 1824; dean of Achonry 6 Dec. 1824 to 11 May 1839; dean of Down 11 May 1839 to death; one of the first advocates of the Irish National system of education. d. Clare st. Dublin 1 Dec. 1855 aged 85. G.M. xlv, 309 (1856).
BLAKENEY, Sir Edward (4 son of colonel Wm. Blakeney M.P. for Athenry in Irish parliament). b. Newcastle 1778; Cornet 8 Light dragoons 28 Feb. 1794; lieut. col. 7 Foot 20 June 1811 to 2 June 1825; served in the Peninsula 1811–14; commanded first brigade in army sent to Portugal 1825; colonel 7 Foot 20 Sep. 1832 to 21 Dec. 1854; commanded troops in Ireland 1838–55; general 20 June 1854; colonel 1 Foot 21 Dec. 1854 to death; lieutenant governor of Chelsea hospital 6 Feb. 1855, governor 25 Sep. 1856 to death; field marshal 9 Nov. 1862; colonel in chief of Rifle brigade 28 Aug. 1865 to death; K.T.S. 1812, K.C.B. 2 Jany. 1815, G.C.B. 7 May 1849; G.C.H. 7 May 1836; P.C. Ireland 7 May 1836. d. Chelsea hospital 2 Aug. 1868.
BLAKENEY, Rev. Richard Paul. b. Roscommon 2 June 1820; ed. at Trin. coll. Dublin, B.A. 1842, LL.B. and LLD. 1852, D.D. Edin. 1868; C. of St. Paul’s, Nottingham 1843–44; P.C. of Hyson Green, Notts. 1844–52; P.C. of Ch. Ch. Claughton, Cheshire Jany. 1852 to 1874; V. of Bridlington 1874 to death; rural dean of Bridlington 1876 to death; canon of York 1882 to death; author of Translation of the Moral theology of Alphonsus Liguori 1845, 2 ed. 1852; A manual of Romish controversy 1851; Protestant Catechism 1854; History and interpretation of the Book of common prayer 1865, 3 ed. 1878. d. Bridlington 31 Dec. 1884. Church portrait journal May 1880, portrait.
BLAKESLEY, Very Rev. Joseph Williams (son of Jeremiah George Blakesley of City of London, factor who d. 1817 or 1818). b. 38 Coleman st. city of London 6 March 1808; ed. at St. Paul’s school 1819–27 (captain 1826–27) and C. C. coll. Cam., migrated to Trinity college 1830, foundation scholar 1830, 21 wrangler and 3 classic 1831, B.A. 1831, M.A. 1834, B.D. 1850; fellow of Trinity 1831, assistant tutor 1834, tutor 1839–45; member of the celebrated Apostles club at Cambridge; select preacher 1840 and 1843; V. of Ware, Herts. 30 May 1845 to 1872; canon of Canterbury 27 June 1863 to 4 July 1872; dean of Lincoln 4 July 1872 to death; master of the Mercers Company 1864; an active member of the committee for revision of translation of New Testament; author of Thoughts on the recommendations of the Ecclesiastical commission 1837; Life of Aristotle 1839; Conciones Academicæ 1843; Herodotus with a commentary 2 vols. 1852–54; Four months in Algeria, with a visit to Carthage 1859; wrote under signature of “A Hertfordshire Incumbent” many letters on social questions to The Times which attracted general attention. d. The deanery, Lincoln 18 April 1885. Saturday Review lix, 533 (1885); Guardian 22 April 1885, p. 596.
BLAKEY, Robert (son of Robert Blakey of Morpeth, Northumberland, mechanic who d. Feb. 1796 aged 22). b. Manchester lane, Morpeth 18 May 1795; wrote for the Black Dwarf a London paper 1817–21 and for the Newcastle Mag., Durham Chronicle and Cobbett’s Register 1822–32; mayor of Morpeth 1836–37; purchased the Newcastle Liberator 1 Jany. 1838 which was amalgamated with the Champion a London weekly paper 1840; started the Politician a London weekly paper of which only 6 numbers were issued; professor of logic and metaphysics in Queen’s college Belfast Aug. 1849 to 1851; a great proficient in the art of angling; granted civil list pension of £100, 20 Jany. 1860; author of An essay towards an easy and useful system of logic 1834, 2 ed. 1848; Hints on angling by Hackle Palmer 1846; History of the philosophy of the mind 4 vols. 1848; The anglers complete guide to the rivers and lakes of England 1854; The history of political literature from the earliest times 2 vols. 1854, and of a number of minor works. d. 20 Blomfield road, Shepherds Bush, London 26 Oct. 1878. Memoirs of R. Blakey edited by Rev. H. Miller 1879.
BLAKISTON, Anne (elder dau. of John Rochfort of Clogrenane, co. Carlow). m. Sep. 1782 Sir Matthew Blakiston, 2 baronet, who was b. 1760 and d. 20 Sep. 1806, she d. Lymington, Hants, 27 Nov. 1862 in 102 year.
BLAKISTON, Sir Matthew, 3 Baronet. b. Athlone 13 May 1783; succeeded 20 Sep, 1806. d. Sandybrooke hall, Ashbourne, Derbyshire 23 Dec. 1862.
BLAKISTON, Sir Matthew, 4 Baronet. b. Bath 15 Jany. 1811; ed. at the Charterhouse and Trin. coll. Dub.; succeeded 23 Dec. 1862. d. Sandybrooke hall 3 Dec. 1883.
BLAKISTON, Peyton (youngest child of Sir Matthew Blakiston, 2 baronet 1760–1806). b. 6 Sep. 1801; ed. at Eton and Trin. coll. Cam.; migrated to Em. coll., a Dixie fellow; B.A. 1823, M.A. 1827, M.L. 1837, M.D. 1841; C. of Bilton, co. Warwick; V. of Lymington, Hants. 1830–33; studied medicine at Cambridge and Paris; practised at Birmingham, phys. to general hospital 1841; F.R.S. 21 Jany. 1840; F.R.C.P. 1843; practised at St. Leonard’s on Sea 1848–71; author of On diseases of the Chest 1848; Clinical observations on diseases of the heart 1865; Clinical reminiscences 1878. d. 140 Harley st. London 17 Dec. 1878. Proc. of Med. and Chir. Soc. viii, 397–99 (1880); Proc. of Royal Soc. xxix, 1–2 (1879).
BLAMIRE, George. Barrister L.I. 25 June 1819; owner of large estates in Cumberland and Glamorganshire; occupied 3 rooms on first floor of 1 Adam st. Adelphi, London 1847 to death; slept in an arm chair last 16 years of his life; found dead in his chair at 1 Adam st. 17 Sep. 1863, having probably died 13 or 14 Sep. aged 75.
BLAMIRE, Jane Christian (2 dau. of Wm. Blamire of The Oaks near Dalston, Cumberland, surgeon who d. 29 Jany. 1814). b. The Oaks 20 March 1788; housekeeper to her brother at Thackwood, Cumberland 1813 to 1831; a great philanthropist. d. Thackwood 20 Sep. 1857. H. Lonsdale’s Worthies of Cumberland iv, 117–39 (1873).
BLAMIRE, William (only brother of the preceding). b. The Oaks 13 April 1790; ed. at Carlisle and Westminster; entered Ch. Ch. Ox. Oct. 1808, B.A. 1811; a great stock breeder, went to all the fairs in Scotland and North England; sheriff of Cumberland 1828; M.P. for Cumberland 9 May 1831 to 3 Dec. 1832, for East Cumberland 17 Dec. 1832 to Aug. 1836; made a great speech in House of Commons on Tithe Commutation bill 25 March 1836; Tithe comr. for England and Wales 22 Aug. 1836 to 8 Aug. 1851 when the commission expired after having converted tithes into rent charges amounting to more than £4,000,000 per annum; Copyhold and Tithe comr. 22 June 1841; Inclosure comr. 21 Aug. 1845 to 1860. d. Thackwood near Carlisle 12 Jany. 1862. A biographical sketch of the late W. Blamire by H. Lonsdale, M.D. 1862.
BLANC, Jean Joseph Louis. b. Madrid 28 Oct. 1813; clerk in a lawyer’s office in Paris 1830; edited a journal called Le Bon Sens 1836–38; founded La revue du progrès 1838 in which he advocated socialistic ideas; published The organisation of labour 1841; Histoire des dix ans 1841 which helped to precipitate the revolution of 1848; a member of the Provisional government 1848; pres. of the Labour commission; declined the Dictatorship; a member of the National Assembly; proscribed by the Assembly; lived in exile in England 1849–70; correspondent to several French journals; published Letters on England, 2 series 2 vols. 1867; a member of French National Assembly Feb. 1871 to death. d. Cannes 6 Dec. 1882. Louis Blanc, sa vie, ses œuvres, par C. Robin 1851, portrait; Louis Blanc, par C. Edmond 1882, portrait; I.L.N. xii, 182 (1848), portrait, xiii, 189 (1848), portrait, lxxxi, 629 (1882), portrait.
Note.—When an attempt was made to assassinate him in Paris 15 Aug. 1839 his brother Charles Blanc had a vivid presentiment of the scene, an incident on which Dumas founded the play of the Corsican Brothers.
BLANCHARD, Edmund Forster (youngest son of Samuel Laman Blanchard of London, author 1804–45). contributed to many periodicals; connected with Lloyd’s Newspaper some time; author with Edward Wilberforce of Poems 1857; published The poetical works of Oliver Goldsmith with a notice of his life and genius 1867. d. 20 Air st. Piccadilly, London 25 July 1870 aged 38.
BLANCHARD, Sidney Laman (elder brother of the preceding). Author of The Ganges and the Seine 2 vols. 1862; Yesterday and to-day in India 1867; Riddles of love or the knave of hearts 3 vols. 1871. d. Brighton 9 Nov. 1883.
BLANCHARD, Thomas. Pantaloon at Covent Garden theatre 26 Dec. 1827; acquired considerable repute as a broadswordsman; obtained great fame at the old Coburg theatre London for the celebrated drunken combat with Thomas Bradley in The Maid of Genoa 1828; said to be original inventor of the “one two three and under” style of using the broadsword; last appeared as pantaloon at Victoria theatre 1845; built some cottages at back of Victoria theatre which still bear his name; d. London 20 Aug. 1859 aged 72.
BLAND, Venerable George (2 son of Michael Bland F.R.S. who d. 19 April 1851 aged 74). b. 1804; ed. at Caius coll. Cam., B.A. 1828, M.A. 1831; R. of Slinfold Sussex 1836–44; archdeacon of Lindisfarne 7 May 1844 to 1853; archdeacon of Northumberland 1853 to death; R. of St. Mary-le-Bow Durham 1856–59. d. The college, Durham 17 Feb. 1880.
BLAND, Humphrey. b. England 1812; an actor at Surrey theatre London 1834; went to America 1844; made his début at Park theatre New York 1 Sep. 1845 as Lewson in The Gamester; first appeared in Philadelphia 4 March 1850 at the Arch st. theatre as Joseph Surface in The school for scandal. d. New York 17 Jany. 1869.
BLAND, James (2 son of George Bland of London, actor by Maria Theresa Romanzini of London, vocalist 1769–1838). b. 5 March 1798; made his first appearance in London at English opera house 1 July 1822 in an operetta called Love among the roses; comedian at Drury Lane and Haymarket, at Olympic 1831, at Covent Garden 1839, at Lyceum and Adelphi, and at Strand theatre down to his death. d. at stage door of Strand theatre, Surrey st. London 17 July 1861.
BLAND, Loftus Henry (3 son of John Bland of Blandsfort, Queen’s county who d. 11 Nov. 1810). b. Blandsfort Aug. 1805; ed. at Trin. coll. Cam.; B.A. 1825, M.A. 1828; called to Irish bar 1829; M.P. for King’s county 26 July 1852 to 23 April 1859; Q.C. 28 Jany. 1854; chairman of quarter sessions co. Cavan 1862. d. 33 Merrion sq. Dublin 21 Jany. 1872.
BLAND, Michael (only child of Thomas Bland of Norwich, merchant who d. 28 Aug. 1818 in 79 year). Partner in firm of Whitbread and Co. of London, brewers; F.R.S. 8 Feb. 1816, F.S.A., F.G.S. d. 65 Cambridge terrace, Hyde park, London 19 April 1851 aged 74.
BLAND, Rev. Miles (son of Thomas Bland). b. Sedbergh 11 Oct. 1786; ed. at Sedbergh sch. and St. John’s coll. Cam., 2 wrangler and Smith’s prizeman 1808, B.A. 1808, M.A. 1811, B.D. 1818, D.D. 1826, fellow of his college 5 April 1808, assistant tutor 1809, tutor to 1823; R. of Lilley, Herts. 16 May 1823 to death; preb. of Wells cathedral 18 April 1826 to death; F.R.S. 12 April 1821, F.R.A.S., F.S.A.; author of Algebraical problems 1812, 9 ed. 1849; Geometrical problems 1819, 3 ed. 1827; Annotations on the historical books of the New Testament 2 vols. 1828–29; Mechanical and philosophical problems 1830. d. 5 Royal crescent, Ramsgate 27 Dec. 1867.
BLAND, William (younger son of Robert Bland of London, physician who d. 29 June 1816 aged 76). b. London 5 Nov. 1789; surgeon’s mate on board a man-of-war; fought a duel with the purser of his ship in the Persian gulf when he shot his opponent dead; fought another duel with Lieut. Wm. Randall, tried at Calcutta and sentenced to 7 years transportation 1814, exiled to Sydney 1814, obtained a free pardon; surgeon at Sydney 1815 to death; fined £50 with 12 months in Paramatta gaol for libelling Governor Macquarie; a naval surgeon 7 July 1826; member for Sydney to first elective legislature of New South Wales 15 June 1843 to 1848; presented with a testimonial of £1000 by people of Sydney 14 Sep. 1858. d. 28 College st. Sydney 21 July 1868. Carlisle’s History of family of Bland (1826) 235–47; Illust. news of the world iv, 68 (1859), portrait; Heads of the people ii, 67 (1848), portrait.
BLANE, Archibald William. b. 29 March 1788; member of council Mauritius; discovered the wealth of the Peel river district Australia; deputy governor of Australian Agricultural company 1845 to death. d. Booral, Port Stephens 6 Nov. 1852.
BLANE, David Anderson. b. 1801; entered Bombay civil service 1819; member of council at Bombay 1 March 1849 to 1854 when he retired on annuity. d. 21 Prince’s gardens, South Kensington, London 17 June 1879.
BLANE, Sir Hugh Seymour, 2 Baronet. b. 29 July 1795; ed. at the Charterhouse 1803–7; ensign 3 Foot guards 31 March 1814, captain 30 Aug. 1831 to 1835; succeeded 27 June 1834. d. The Pastures near Derby 14 April 1869.
BLANE, Robert. Cornet 2 Life Guards 1 Nov. 1831; assistant adjutant general and military sec. 1854–55; military attaché at St. Petersburgh 21 July 1866 to death; colonel 11 April 1860; C.B. 2 Jany. 1857. d. 11 Eaton terrace, Eaton sq. London 30 May 1871.
BLANSHARD, Thomas. Second lieut. R.E. 28 Sep. 1807, colonel 5 July 1851 to 16 Dec. 1854, M.G. 16 Dec. 1854; C.B. 19 July 1838. d. Grove house, Hampton, Middlesex 19 June 1859 aged 70.
BLANSHARD, William (eld. son of Richard Blanshard of Northallerton). b. 29 June 1802; served in East India company’s navy 1817–19; barrister I.T. 16 May 1828; recorder of Ripon 1830–35; revising barrister 1832–63; advocate in all the Courts of Archbishop of Canterbury, who created him M.A. 18 Feb. 1839; recorder of Doncaster June 1857 to July 1870; judge of Northumberland county court (circuit No. 1.) 10 Jany. 1863 to Oct. 1871; author of A treatise on the statutes of limitations 1826. d. Scarborough 28 Nov. 1872.
BLANTYRE, Lady Evelyn (2 dau. of 2 Duke of Sutherland 1786–1861). b. 2 Hamilton place, Piccadilly, London 8 Aug. 1825. (m. 4 Oct. 1843 Charles Stuart, 12 Baron Blantyre who was b. 21 Dec. 1818). d. Nice 24 Nov. 1869. Sir. H. Nicolas’s Court of Queen Victoria (1845) 13–18, portrait; Illust. News of the world ix, (1862), portrait.
BLASIS, Carlo (son of Francesco Antonio Blasis of Naples, ballet composer). b. Naples 4 Dec. 1803; a principal dancer at Marseilles, Bordeaux, Paris and Milan 1816–26; dancer and ballet composer at the King’s theatre London 1826; finishing master of the Imperial Academy of dancing at Milan 1 Dec. 1837; ballet composer at Royal Italian opera Covent Garden 1846; composed the Spanish dances which were performed at the public breakfasts given by the Duchess of St. Albans; wrote more than 50 ballets; wrote the chapters upon private dancing in The young lady’s book 1828–29; author of The code of Terpsichore 1830. d. Cernolio near lake of Como Jany. 1878. Notes upon dancing by C. Blasis (1847) 36–148, portrait.
BLAXLAND, Gregory. b. Kent 1771; emigrated to Sydney 1806; crossed the Blue Mountains with W. C. Wentworth May 1813 after several unsuccessful attempts had been made to do so; introduced cultivation of oaten hay into colony of New South Wales. d. 3 Jany. 1853.
BLAYNEY, Cadwallader Davis Blayney, 12 Baron. b. Dover st. Piccadilly, London 19 Dec. 1802; M.P. for Monaghan 18 Aug. 1830 to 8 April 1834, when he succeeded; an Irish representative peer 12 June 1841 to death. d. 18 Jany. 1874.
BLECKLEY, Thomas Macdougall (son of Rev. John Bleckley). b. 13 Dec. 1828; assistant surgeon in the army 6 Jany. 1854; surgeon major 1 March 1873 to 24 Jany. 1880; C.B. 31 March 1874. d. Lorne house, Central hill, Upper Norwood 23 Nov. 1882.
BLEECK, Arthur Henry. b. about 1829; employed in the British Museum; held a post in connection with the land transport corps at Sinope during Crimean war; author with W. B. Barker of A practical grammar of the Turkish language 1854; author of A concise grammar of the Persian language 1857; Catalogue of the Napoleon library in the possession of Mr. Joshua Bates privately printed 1858; Avesta, the religious books of the Parsees, from Spiegel’s German translation of the original manuscripts 3 vols. 1864. d. 56 Bevington road, Kensington 27 Jany. 1877 aged 47.
BLEEK, Wilhelm Heinrich Immanuel (son of Friedrich Bleek of Berlin, biblical critic 1793–1859). b. Berlin 8 March 1827; ed. at Bonn and Berlin; studied habits and language of the Kaffirs in Natal 1855–57; interpreter to Sir George Grey at Cape Town 1857; librarian of the valuable collection of rare books presented by Sir G. Grey to the colony at Cape Town 1 Feb. 1862 to death; granted civil list pension of £150, 18 June 1870. (m. Jemima Charlotte, she was granted a civil list pension of £100, 13 June 1877); author of The languages of Mozambique 1856; The library of Sir George Grey 2 vols. 1858–59; Comparative grammar of South African languages, 2 parts 1862–69; Reynard the Fox in South Africa, or Hottentot tales and fables 1864; Bushman folklore 1875. d. Cape Town 17 Aug. 1875. Cape Monthly Mag. xi, 167–69 (1875).
BLENKINS, William Bazett Goodwin. Captain 6 Bombay native infantry 26 April 1842 to death; C.B. 4 July 1843. d. Bombay 12 June 1852.
BLENKIRON, William (son of Mr. Blenkiron of Marrick near Richmond, Yorkshire, farmer). b. Marrick 1807; a general agent at 78½ Wood st. Cheapside, London 1834–48; a breeder of race horses at Dalston 1848, at Middle park near Eltham 1852 to death; his breeding stud gradually became the largest in England; held his first sale of blood stock at Middle park June 1856, held two annual sales there 1867 to death; bred Hermit winner of the Derby 1867, and Gamos winner of the Oaks 1870; gave 5000 guineas for Blink Bonny, 5000 guineas for Blair Athol, and 5800 guineas for Gladiateur; founded the great two year old race at Newmarket, namely The Middle Park Plate 1866. d. Middle Park 25 Sep. 1871 in 64 year. Rice’s History of the British turf ii, 338–44 (1879); Gent. Mag. iii, 451–62 (1869); I.L.N. lix, 377 (1871), portrait; Illust. sporting and dramatic news i, 181 (1874), portrait; Sporting life 27 Sep. 1871, p. 2, cols. 1, 5, 4 Oct. p. 2, col. 6.
BLEWITT, Jonathan (son of Jonas Blewitt of London, organist who d. 1805). b. about 1781; organist in London, at Haverhill and at Brecon; organist of St. Andrew’s Dublin; composer and director of music at T. R. Dublin; grand organist to Freemasons of Ireland; wrote pantomime music for most of the London theatres 1826–52; director of music at Sadler’s Wells Theatre 1828–29, at Vauxhall gardens 1838 and at Tivoli gardens Margate; wrote a few light operas and upwards of 2000 pieces of vocal music, most of them comic songs, the best known are Barney Brallaghan’s Courtship and The merry little fat grey man 1845, which he used to sing inimitably; composed the tune of The Perfect Cure 1844 which was associated with a now forgotten song called The monkey and the nuts, 20 years afterwards it was utilised by James Hurst Stead who became known as The Perfect Cure, and cleared more than £2000 by linking the tune with other words. d. London 4 Sep. 1853 in 73 year.
BLEWITT, Octavian (son of John Edwards Blewitt of London, merchant 1784–1860). b. St. Helen’s place, Bishopsgate, London 3 Oct. 1810; ed. at Plymouth gr. sch.; travelled in Italy, Egypt, Greece, Turkey and other countries 1837–39; secretary of Royal literary fund in London 13 March 1839 to death; elected a member of the Athenæum club 1848 by a majority of 112 votes to 2; F.G.S. 1835; a knight of order of Leopold of Belgium 1872; edited the newspaper portion of the Gardener’s Chronicle 1840–69; author of A panorama of Torquay 1830; A sketch of the district comprised between the Dart and the Teign 1832; Treatise on the happiness arising from the exercise of the Christian faith 1832; Handbook for travellers in Central Italy 1843 (anon.) 2 ed. (with the author’s name) 1850; Handbook for travellers in Southern Italy 1853. d. 133 Elgin crescent, London 4 Nov. 1884. Biograph v, 170–85 (1881).
BLEWITT, Reginald James (2 son of Edward Blewitt of Llantarnam abbey, Monmouthshire who d. 8 March 1832 in 70 year). b. 26 May 1799; ed. at Rugby; solicitor at 8 New square Lincoln’s Inn London 1821–27; M.P. for borough of Monmouth 24 July 1837 to March 1852; established the Monmouthshire Merlin a liberal paper 1829, edited it 1829–32; manager of Monmouthshire bank which failed for a very large sum. d. The Priory, Putney 11 Sep. 1878. Law Times lxv, 405 (1878).
BLIGH, Sir John Duncan (2 son of John Bligh, 4 Earl of Darnley 1767–1831). b. London 11 Oct. 1798; ed. at Eton, and Ch. Ch. Ox., B.A. 1821, B.C.L. 1828, D.C.L. 1836; paid attaché in Paris 9 May 1828; sec. of legation at Florence 30 July 1829; sec. of embassy at The Hague 1 Nov. 1830; Min. plenipo. at The Hague 3 July 1832, at St. Petersburg 7 Sep. 1832, at Stockholm 28 Oct. 1835, and at Hanover 17 April 1838 to 14 June 1856 when he retired; C.B. 1 March 1851, K.C.B. 30 Sep. 1856. d. Sandgate, Kent 8 May 1872.
BLIGHT, William. Entered navy 9 May 1793; captain 22 July 1830; retired R.A. 27 Sep. 1855. d. Stonehouse, Plymouth 22 July 1862 aged 77.
BLISS, Henry (4 son of Jonathan Bliss of New Brunswick). b. New Brunswick; barrister I.T. 9 Feb. 1827, bencher 1850, reader 1863, treasurer 1864; Q.C. 1850; agent in England for Nova Scotia many years; author of On colonial intercourse 1830; Statistics of the trade, industry and resources of Canada 1833; State trials, specimen of a new edition by N. T. Moile, pseud. 1838; Cicero, a drama by N. T. Moile, 1847; Robespierre, a tragedy 1854. d. Folkestone 31 July 1873 aged 76.
BLISS, Rev. Philip (son of Rev. Philip Bliss 1742–1803 R. of Frampton Cotterell, Gloucs). b. Chipping Sodbury, Gloucs. 21 Dec. 1787; ed. at Merchant Taylors’ 1797–1806 and St. John’s coll. Ox., scholar 1806, law fellow 1809, B.C.L. 1815, D.C.L. 1820; assistant librarian Bodleian library 1810, under librarian July 1822 to Dec. 1828; prepared the first 136 pages of the catalogue issued 1814; C. of Newington, Oxon. 1817 to Feb. 1830; registrar of the University 1824 to April 1853; chaplain at Studley Priory 1830–55; registrar of the University Court 1831; principal of St. Mary hall Ox. April 1848 to death; edited Bishop Earle’s Microcosmography 1811; Anthony à Wood’s Athenæ Oxonienses and Fasti 4 vols. 1813–20; Reliquiæ Hearnianæ the remains of Thomas Hearne 2 vols. 1857, 2 ed. 1869 and many other books. d. the Lodgings St. Mary Hall, Oxford 18 Nov. 1857. Dict. of Nat. Biog. v, 221–22 (1886).
BLITZ, Antonio. b. Deal, Kent 21 June 1810; made his first appearance on the stage as a ventriloquist and conjurer at Hamburg Sep. 1823; performed in all the cities of North Europe; first appeared in England at Dover Dec. 1825, and in London at Coburg theatre, Lent 1828; sailed for New York 1 Aug. 1834; in 1870 there were 13 conjurers travelling in America under assumed name of Blitz. d. Philadelphia 28 Jany. 1877. Fifty years in the magic circle by Signor Blitz (1871), portrait.
BLOCHMANN, Henry. b. Dresden 7 Jany. 1838; landed at Calcutta Sep. 1858; professor of mathematics at the Doveton college Calcutta 1862–65; M.A. Calcutta Univ. 1865; assistant professor of the Calcutta Madrassa 1865, principal 1875 to death; member of Asiatic Society of Bengal 6 April 1864, sec. 1868 to death; author of The Prosody of the Persians 1872; School geography of India 1873; English and Urdu school dictionary Romanized, 8 ed. 1877; The first geography, 17 ed. 1879. d. Calcutta 13 July 1878. Proc. of Asiatic Society of Bengal (1878) 164–67.
BLOCKLEY, John. b. 1801; Music publisher at 3 Argyll st. Regent st. London; composed many ballads, several of which were very popular namely the duet List tis music stealing and the songs Love not and The Englishman. d. 6 Park road, Haverstock hill, London 24 Dec. 1882.
BLOIS, Sir Charles, 7 Baronet. b. Sway, Hants. 1794; lieut. col. East Suffolk militia 1844 to 1853; succeeded 20 Aug. 1850. d. Cockfield hall, Suffolk 12 June 1855.
BLOMEFIELD, Rev. Sir Thomas Eardley Wilmot, 3 Baronet. b. Peamore near Exeter 3 Aug. 1820; succeeded 30 June 1858, V. of All Saint’s Pontefract 1859–72; master of Archbishop Holgate’s hospital near Hemsworth 1872 to death. d. Holgate lodge, Pontefract 21 Nov. 1878.
BLOMEFIELD, Sir Thomas William, 2 Baronet. b. Arlington st. Piccadilly, London 24 March 1791; succeeded 24 Aug. 1822. d. Egremont lodge, Brighton 30 June 1858.
BLOMFIELD, Right Rev. Charles James (eld. son of Charles Blomfield of Bury St. Edmunds, school master who d. 28 Sep. 1831 in 69 year). b. Bury St. Edmunds 29 May 1786; ed. at Bury gr. sch. and Trin. coll. Cam.; scholar 1805, fellow Oct. 1809, Craven Univ. scholar 1806, 3 wrangler and Chancellor’s classical medallist 1808; B.A. 1808, M.A. 1811, B.D. 1818, D.D. 1820; R. of Dunton, Bucks. Dec. 1811; V. and R. of Great and Little Chesterford July 1817; R. of Tuddenham, Suffolk 1817; R. of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate May 1820; archdeacon of Colchester 15 Jany. 1822 to 4 June 1824; bishop of Chester 8 June 1824, consecrated in Whitehall chapel 20 June; bishop of London 15 Aug. 1828 to 30 Sep. 1856 when he resigned on a pension of £6000; P.C. 31 July 1828; admitted dean of chapels royal 12 Dec. 1828, enthroned in St. Paul’s cathedral 16 Jany. 1829; member of Ecclesiastical commission 1836 of which he was the moving spirit; published editions of Prometheus Vinctus 1810, Septem contra Thebas 1812, Persæ 1814, Choephoræ 1821; an edition of Callimachus 1815 and of Euripides 1821; wrote on classical subjects for Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews, and for the Museum Criticum a journal established by himself and James Henry Monk 1813. d. Fulham palace 5 Aug. 1857. A memoir of C. J. Blomfield edited by his son Alfred Blomfield, 2 ed. 1864; Rev. G. E. Biber’s Bishop Blomfield and his times 1857; H. Martineau’s Biographical sketches, 4 ed. (1876) 167–74; I.L.N. xxiv, 401 (1854), portrait.
BLOOD, Bindon. b. Cranacher, Ireland; lived at 22 Queen st. Edinburgh 1829–42; an original member of the Abbotsford Club 20 March 1833; a great collector of books which were piled in great heaps in his garrets, cellars and warerooms like unsorted goods; known as The Vampire and The Dragon. d. Ireland 1855. Crombie’s Modern Athenians (1882) 11–14, portrait; J. H. Burton’s The bookhunter, new ed. (1882) 55–58.