Earl of Darnley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Earldom of Darnley
Arms of Bligh: Azure, a Griffin segreant Or, armes and langued Gules, between three Crescents Argent. Crest: A Griffin’s Head erased Or. Supporters: On either side a Griffin wings expanded Or, ducally collared and chained Azure.
Creation date	29 June 1725
Creation	Third
Monarch	King George I
Peerage	Peerage of Ireland
First holder	John Bligh, 1st Viscount Darnley
Present holder	Ivo Bligh, 12th Earl of Darnley
Heir apparent	Harry Bligh, Lord Clifton
Remainder to	The 1st Earl's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten
Subsidiary titles	Viscount Darnley Baron Clifton of Leighton Bromswold Baron Clifton of Rathmore
Status	Extant
Seat(s)	Netherwood Manor
Former seat(s)	Cobham Hall
Motto	FINEM RESPICE (Look to the end)

The Earl of Darnley is a special family title that is passed down through generations. It has been created three times in history. Twice it was created in the Peerage of Scotland (meaning for Scottish nobles), and once in the Peerage of Ireland (for Irish nobles).

The first time the title was created in Scotland was in 1580. It was given to Esme Stewart, who also became the Duke of Lennox. The second time was in 1675 for Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond. He also became the Duke of Lennox at the same time. You can find more about these titles by looking up the Duke of Richmond.

The only time the title was created in Ireland was in 1725. This was for John Bligh, 1st Earl of Darnley. His family came from England but had moved to County Meath, Ireland.

The Bligh Family: Earls of Darnley (Third Creation)

Arms of Bligh: Azure, a griffin segreant or armed and langued gules between three crescents argent

John Bligh, 1st Earl of Darnley (1687–1728)

John Bligh, 1st Earl of Darnley was born in 1687. He married Lady Theodosia Hyde in 1713. Her family had a connection to an earlier Darnley title.

John Bligh was a member of the Irish House of Commons (like a parliament) from 1709 to 1721. In 1721, he received his first noble title: Baron Clifton of Rathmore. Two years later, in 1723, he became Viscount Darnley. Finally, in 1725, he was made Earl of Darnley. He passed away in 1728.

Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley (1715–1747)

Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley was the eldest son of the 1st Earl. He inherited his mother's title, Baron Clifton, in 1722. He served as a special assistant to Frederick, Prince of Wales. Edward died in 1747 when he was only 31 years old and had no children.

John Bligh, 3rd Earl of Darnley (1719–1781)

The Darnley Mausoleum in Cobham Woods, built in 1786 as ordered by the will of the 3rd Earl

John Bligh, 3rd Earl of Darnley was the third son of the 1st Earl. He was also a member of parliament in both Ireland and Britain. He made many changes to the family home, Cobham Hall. He added new parts and redecorated rooms.

He also planned for a special building called the Darnley Mausoleum to be built. This was meant to be a burial place for his family. It was finished in 1786, but it was never used for burials.

John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley (1767–1831)

John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley was the eldest son of the 3rd Earl. He continued to make changes to Cobham Hall. He added a bridge and more decorative details.

Edward Bligh, 5th Earl of Darnley (1795–1835)

Edward Bligh, 5th Earl of Darnley was the eldest son of the 4th Earl. He was a Member of Parliament for Canterbury. He also served as the Lord Lieutenant of County Meath, which is a royal representative. He died at 39 after an accident while cutting timber.

His daughter, Lady Elizabeth Bligh, was a historian. She wrote books about her family's history.

John Bligh, 6th Earl of Darnley (1827–1896)

John Stuart Bligh, 6th Earl of Darnley was the eldest son of the 5th Earl. He made some changes to the dining room at Cobham Hall. He also helped restore a monument in Westminster Abbey. He was involved with the Kent County Cricket Club.

Edward Bligh, 7th Earl of Darnley (1851–1900)

Edward Henry Stuart Bligh, 7th Earl of Darnley was the eldest son of the 6th Earl. He was a talented cricket player for Kent County Cricket Club. When he died, he had no sons. So, his daughter, Lady Elizabeth Bligh, inherited the Baron Clifton title. His younger brother became the 8th Earl of Darnley.

Ivo Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley (1859–1927)

Ivo Francis Walter Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley was the younger brother of the 7th Earl. He was a very successful cricketer and even captained the English Test team. He met his wife, Florence Morphy, in Australia.

During the First World War, he and his wife let Australian officers stay at Cobham Hall. Later, he sold some of the family's land and turned part of the deer park into a golf course. He was an Irish Representative Peer in the House of Lords.

Esme Bligh, 9th Earl of Darnley (1886–1955)

Esme Ivo Bligh, 9th Earl of Darnley was the eldest son of the 8th Earl. In 1937, he also inherited the Baron Clifton title from his cousin.

Peter Bligh, 10th Earl of Darnley (1915–1980)

Peter Stuart Bligh, 10th Earl of Darnley was the eldest son of the 9th Earl. After his father died, he had to sell Cobham Hall in 1959. This was due to high taxes. The hall is now a school.

Adam Bligh, 11th Earl of Darnley (1941–2017)

Adam Bligh, 11th Earl of Darnley was the half-brother of the 10th Earl. He founded the "Cobham Hall Heritage Trust" to protect the gardens and buildings of the estate. He also moved the family to the Netherwood Manor estate in Herefordshire.

Ivo Bligh, 12th Earl of Darnley (1968–)

Ivo Donald Bligh is the current Earl of Darnley. He was born in 1968 and became the 12th Earl in 2017 after his father passed away. He is married to Peta Martine Beard, and they have three sons. His eldest son, Harry Robert Stuart Bligh, is the next in line for the title.

Other Notable Bligh Family Members

Many other members of the Bligh family have been important. Some were generals in the British Army. Others were diplomats or members of parliament. Susan Bligh, Countess of Darnley, the wife of the 11th Earl, was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire in 2008.

Family Homes

Collegiate Church of Cobham, Kent

The main family home is now Netherwood Manor in Thornbury, Herefordshire. Before that, the family lived at Cobham Hall in Kent from the 1700s until 1957. The family still owns some property in the nearby village of Cobham, Kent.

Images for kids

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  Netherwood Manor at Thornbury, Herefordshire, current family seat