Page:A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices.djvu/43

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Blathwayt — Blount.
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BLATHWAYT or BLATHWAITE, WILLIAM.
Politician.
About 1649—1717.

Admitted 20 February, 1664-5.

Son and heir of William Blathwayt, of the Middle Temple, and of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields. In 1668 he was Secretary of the Embassy at the Hague, and in 1683 Secretary-at-War, in which capacity he accompanied James II. in 1688 to Salisbury. He was Clerk to the Privy Council in 1689, at the trial of the Seven Bishops. He was a favourite of William III., whom he attended during his campaign in Flanders. He sometime represented Newtown (Isle of Wight) and Bath in Parliament. Whilst in the House he was the Whig champion against Harley. He retired from public life in 1710, and died at Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire, in Aug. 1717.


BLENNERHASSET, HARMAN.
Lawyer and Politician.
About 1764—1831.

Admitted 17 May, 1784.

Only son of Conway Blennerhasset of Conway Castle, co. Kerry, and of the Middle Temple. In 1796, having imbibed Republican opinions, he emigrated to America, and settled in Ohio, where he devoted himself to literature and science. He then became involved in the treasonable schemes of Aaron Burr, and in 1807 was arrested. This led to the loss of his fortune, and he settled in Montreal and commenced practice as a lawyer. Failing in this, he returned to Ireland. He died in Guernsey in 1831.


BLESSINGTON, VISCOUNT. See BOYLE, MURRAGH.


BLORE, THOMAS.
Topographer.
1764—1818.

Admitted 17 November, 1792.

Eldest son of John Blore of Ashborne, Derbyshire, where he was born on 1 Dec. 1764. He was never called to the Bar, but going to reside in Hertfordshire, he employed himself in collections for the topography of that county, which were subsequently embodied in Clutterbuck's History. He subsequently resided at Stamford, where he edited for some time the Stamford News. He died in London, 10 Nov. 1818, and was buried in Paddington Church, where a monument describes him as of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, and a member of the Antiquarian Society.

Besides the papers above alluded to, Mr. Blore published a number of treatises on topographical subjects, particularly relating to the Counties of Derby, Lincoln, Rutland, and Northamptonshire.


BLOUNT or BLUNTE, CHARLES, first EARL OF DEVONSHIRE and EIGHTH BARON MOUNTJOY.
1563—1606.

Admitted 20 June, 1579.

Son of Lord Mountjoy, sixth Lord. He was admitted from Clifford's Inn. His ambition, however, was not for the law, but to repair the family fortunes at Court, and he became a favourite of Queen Elizabeth. In 1586 he was knighted, and in 1588 took part against the Spanish Armada. In 1594 he was appointed Governor of Portsmouth, and in the same year succeeded his brother as eighth Lord Mountjoy. He served under the Earl of Essex in the Low Countries, and subsequently in the Azores, and Ireland, and on his