Edward Bligh

Lieutenant-general Edward Bligh (19 September 1769 – 2 November 1840), styled The Honourable from birth, was a British Army officer, a member of the Irish House of Commons, a noted amateur cricketer and a prominent early member of Marylebone Cricket Club. He was a member of the Darnley noble family. Early life Bligh was born in 1769 in County Meath in the Kingdom of Ireland, the second son of John Bligh, 3rd Earl of Darnley and his wife Lady Mary (née Stoyte). His mother was a "wealthy heiress" and the only child of a leading Irish barrister, John Stoyte from Streete, County Westmeath. John Bligh, who was 47 years old, married the 18 year old Stoyte in 1767 in Dublin. The Earls of Darnley owned Clifton Lodge in County Meath and much of the area around Athboy in the county, as well as Cobham Hall in Kent, England, and Edward Bligh grew up at both properties. He was educated at Eton College. Army career After leaving Eton, Bligh entered the British Army, initially being commissioned into the Coldstream Guards as an ensign in 1787. He was promoted to major, serving in the 3rd Foot Guards, in 1792 and, after serving in the 1793 Flanders campaign during the early years of the French Revolutionary Wars held the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the 85th Regiment of Foot by 1794 and brevet colonel by 1798, when he served as aide-de-camp to George III whilst serving in the 107th Regiment of Foot. He commanded the 2nd battalion of the 5th Regiment of Foot between 1799 and 1803 and late commanded the 33rd Regiment of Foot. In 1805, Bligh was promoted to major-general at the age of 32. Bligh was promoted to lieutenant-general in 1811. Cricket Primarily a batsman, Bligh played in 76 first-class cricket matches in a career which lasted from 1789 to 1813. He was a prominent member of the MCC and played 27 of his first-class matches for the club, as well as a number of matches for sides the club was linked to. He appeared 14 times for England sides and eight times for Kent sides between 1790 and 1806 as well as for the Gentlemen of Kent. He organised his own side, E Bligh's XI, and played for one organised by his brother John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley.