Edward Bligh
Encyclopedia
Edward Bligh styled The Honourable from birth, was an Irish
politician, a noted amateur cricket
er and a prominent early member of the Marylebone Cricket Club
.
Bligh was born in County Meath
, Ireland
. He was a brother of the 4th Earl of Darnley
(1767–1831). The 4th Earl was another keen amateur cricketer and was a direct ancestor of the England cricket captain Ivo Bligh
(later the 8th Earl). Educated at Eton College
, Edward Bligh embarked on a military career, attaining general rank within the 33rd Regiment of Foot. Bligh represented Athboy
in the Irish House of Commons
from 1800 to the Act of Union in 1801.
Primarily a batsman, Bligh was also a useful bowler who made 93 known appearances in major cricket matches from the 1789 season to the 1813 season. Arthur Haygarth describes him as "one of the best gentlemen bats of his day".
Bligh played for the Gentlemen in the inaugural and second Gentlemen v Players
matches in 1806. He died at Thames Ditton
, Surrey
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
politician, a noted amateur cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er and a prominent early member of the Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
.
Bligh was born in County Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He was a brother of the 4th Earl of Darnley
John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley
John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley was a British peer and cricketer.He was the son of John Bligh, 3rd Earl of Darnley and succeeded his father as earl on the latter's death in 1781. He resided at Cobham Hall, near Gravesend in Kent....
(1767–1831). The 4th Earl was another keen amateur cricketer and was a direct ancestor of the England cricket captain Ivo Bligh
Ivo Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley
Ivo Francis Walter Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley DL, JP , styled The Honourable Ivo Bligh until 1900, was a British cricketer who captained the English team in the first ever Test series against Australia with the Ashes at stake in 1882/83...
(later the 8th Earl). Educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, Edward Bligh embarked on a military career, attaining general rank within the 33rd Regiment of Foot. Bligh represented Athboy
Athboy (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Athboy was a constituency in County Meath represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Athboy was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...
in the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
from 1800 to the Act of Union in 1801.
Primarily a batsman, Bligh was also a useful bowler who made 93 known appearances in major cricket matches from the 1789 season to the 1813 season. Arthur Haygarth describes him as "one of the best gentlemen bats of his day".
Bligh played for the Gentlemen in the inaugural and second Gentlemen v Players
Gentlemen v Players
The Gentlemen v Players game was a first-class cricket match that was generally played on an annual basis between one team consisting of amateurs and one of professionals . The first two games took place in 1806 but the fixture was not revived until 1819. It was more or less annual thereafter...
matches in 1806. He died at Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton is a village in Surrey, England, bordering Greater London. It is situated 12.2 miles south-west of Charing Cross between the towns of Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton, Esher and East Molesey...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
Further reading
- Arthur HaygarthArthur HaygarthArthur Haygarth was a noted amateur cricketer who became one of cricket's most significant historians....
, Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 (1744-1826), Lillywhite, 1862