Benjamin Bloomfield, 1st Baron Bloomfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Bloomfield
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| Private Secretary to the Sovereign | |
| In office 1817–1822 |
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| Preceded by | Sir John McMahon, 1st Baronet |
| Succeeded by | William Knighton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 April 1768 |
| Died | 15 August 1846 (aged 78) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Royal Military Academy, Woolwich |
Lieutenant General Benjamin Bloomfield, 1st Baron Bloomfield (born April 13, 1768 – died August 15, 1846) was an important British Army officer. He fought in the Battle of Vinegar Hill in June 1798 during the Irish Rebellion. Later, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Plymouth from 1812 to 1818. He also served as the Private Secretary to the Sovereign for King George IV from 1817 to 1822. After that, he became the Commanding Officer of Woolwich Garrison in 1826.
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Early Life and Military Career
Benjamin Bloomfield was born in 1768. His parents were John Bloomfield and Anne Charlotte Waller. He studied at the Royal Military Academy Woolwich. In 1781, he became a second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery.
He fought in the Battle of Vinegar Hill in June 1798. This battle was part of the Irish Rebellion. After this, he served in places like Newfoundland and Gibraltar. In 1806, he was in charge of a group of the Royal Horse Artillery in Brighton. That same year, he became a Gentleman in Waiting to the King.
On June 4, 1814, he was promoted to major-general. He was also a Member of Parliament for Plymouth from 1812 to 1818. On July 19, 1817, he became a Privy Councillor.
Working for King George IV
Benjamin Bloomfield held several important roles for the Prince of Wales, who later became King George IV. He was an Aide-de-Camp, then Chief Equerry, and Clerk Marshal. Finally, he became the King's Private Secretary. He also managed the King's personal money as Keeper of the Privy Purse. From 1817 to 1822, he also handled money for the Duchy of Cornwall.
One of Bloomfield's main jobs was to manage the King's spending. The King spent a lot of money, which sometimes caused discussions in Parliament. People wondered if the royal finances needed changes.
Challenges in His Role
Over time, the King and a lady named Lady Conyngham started to dislike Bloomfield. This was because he tried to control the King's spending. This became clear during the King's trip to Scotland in August 1822. Another person in the King's group, Sir William Knighton, was given a cabin right next to the King. Bloomfield, however, was placed in a cabin much farther away.
Lady Conyngham also encouraged her son, Francis, to take over some of Bloomfield's duties. This made Bloomfield very unhappy. There were even rumors that some of Lady Conyngham's jewels might have belonged to the Crown. Bloomfield knew about this, which might have made the lady want him removed.
As Sir William Knighton and Francis Conyngham started to take over his duties, Bloomfield's confidence dropped. His control over the King's money weakened. Suddenly, his salary was stopped by the King's command. His time in this role was clearly coming to an end. In a desperate move, he tried to get support from Parliament. He felt the King had betrayed him. However, this didn't work because Lady Conyngham's family had connections with the politicians Bloomfield was trying to reach.
The King's Displeasure
Bloomfield's downfall became faster after a royal visit to Dublin in 1821. During one event, the King visited a local theater. The manager thought Bloomfield was a very important royal family member. So, when Bloomfield entered his box, the manager started playing the national anthem. Bloomfield bowed and smiled, and the crowd stood up and sang "God Save the King." The King, who usually had a good sense of humor, was very angry. He saw this as an insult.
Another reason for Bloomfield's removal came from a court official, Sir William Freemantle. He wrote that the King's expenses in spring 1822 showed a lot of money spent on something secret. Bloomfield revealed this was for the King to buy diamonds. The King felt this information was damaging. It showed Bloomfield could no longer protect the King's image. The diamonds were likely for a lady close to the King, and the newspapers found out.
In a final embarrassing moment, the King ordered Bloomfield to pay £45 to stop a drawing from being published. This drawing showed the King and the lady involved in the diamond issue. Bloomfield had already spent a lot of money buying up such drawings.
Bloomfield's Departure
Finally, the King's advisors agreed that Bloomfield should leave his position. The King asked that the Private Secretary job be ended. This made Bloomfield's departure seem like a political decision, not a personal one from the King.
Bloomfield was offered the job of Governor of Ceylon as a replacement. Or, he could receive his current salary for life and the Order of the Bath. Bloomfield felt he deserved an English peerage (a noble title). However, the King became very angry when he heard this demand.
Bloomfield wisely refused the Governor of Ceylon job. But he accepted the Order of the Bath, which paid £650 a year. He also accepted the Governorship of Fort Charles in Jamaica. He later traded this for the job of Minister at Stockholm, where he worked from 1823 to 1832. The King invited him to the Royal Pavilion at Brighton one last time to receive the Order of the Bath. But Bloomfield decided not to go meet his former royal master again.
Later Life and Honors
Benjamin Bloomfield was made a knight on December 12, 1815. He became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on April 1, 1822. On February 21, 1824, he became Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery. He was also given a noble title in the peerage of Ireland as Lord Bloomfield on May 11, 1825. In 1826, he became the Commanding Officer of the garrison at Woolwich.
After his busy years serving the King, Bloomfield became a very religious Christian. He followed the beliefs of Methodism. His house in Portman Square, London, often made people smile. He would put a sign on his front door that said 'At Prayer'. He was promoted to lieutenant general on July 22, 1830. He passed away in Ireland in 1846. He was buried in the Bloomfield Mausoleum at Borrisnafarney Parish Church in County Offaly, Ireland. This church is about 1.5 miles from the village of Moneygall.
Family
Benjamin Bloomfield married Harriott Douglas on September 7, 1797. They had one son, John Arthur Douglas Bloomfield (1802–1879). Their son later became the 2nd Baron Bloomfield. He was also given the title Baron Bloomfield, of Ciamhaltha in the County of Tipperary, when he retired as the British Ambassador to Austria.
Benjamin and Harriott also had three daughters: Charlotte, Georgina, and Harriott. Their daughter Harriott Mary Anne Bloomfield married Colonel Thomas Henry Kingscote on June 5, 1833.
Arms
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