Ivo Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ivo Bligh

Bligh pictured in about 1910
Personal information
Full name	Ivo Francis Walter Bligh
Born	(1859-03-13)13 March 1859 Westminster, London
Died	10 April 1927(1927-04-10) (aged 68) Shorne, Kent
Batting	Right-handed
International information
National side	England
Test debut (cap 38)	30 December 1882 v Australia
Last Test	21 February 1883 v Australia
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1877–1883	Kent
1878–1881	Cambridge University
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 4 84 Runs scored 62 2,733 Batting average 10.33 20.70 100s/50s 0/0 2/12 Top score 19 113* Catches/stumpings 7/– 81/–
Source: CricInfo, 22 September 2008

Blazon of Bligh coat of arms (present Earls of Darnley):
Azure, a Griffin segreant Or armed and langued Gules between three Crescents Argent

Ivo Francis Walter Bligh, the 8th Earl of Darnley (born March 13, 1859 – died April 10, 1927), was a famous British nobleman and cricketer. He was known as The Honourable Ivo Bligh until 1900. He became a key figure in cricket history.

Bligh led the English cricket team in the first ever Test cricket series where The Ashes were played for. This happened against Australia in 1882/83. Later in his life, he became the Earl of Darnley. He also served in the House of Lords as a representative for Ireland.

Early Life and School Days

Ivo Bligh was born in London. He was the second son of John Bligh, the 6th Earl of Darnley. His mother was Lady Harriet Mary.

He went to Eton College, a well-known school. After Eton, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. He earned his degree in 1882. While at Cambridge, he was involved in the Pitt Club. He also played Real Tennis for Cambridge against Oxford in 1880.

The Ashes: A Cricket Legend

The story of Test cricket between England and Australia began in 1877. However, a special event happened in 1882. An English team lost to Australia at The Oval. After this loss, a newspaper called The Sporting Times wrote a funny, pretend obituary for English cricket. It said that English cricket would be cremated. Its "ashes" would be sent to Australia.

The next winter, Bligh's team traveled to Australia. Their goal was to "reclaim The Ashes." Bligh's team did very well! They won the three-match Ashes series two games to one. There was a fourth game, but it wasn't part of The Ashes series.

The Famous Ashes Urn

After England's victory, a small terracotta urn was given to Ivo Bligh. He was the England captain. A group of women in Melbourne, Australia, presented it to him. People say the urn holds the ashes of a cricket bail. This symbolizes the "ashes of English cricket."

The urn has become a symbol of The Ashes series. But the name "The Ashes" was used even before the urn existed. The urn itself is not the trophy for the series. It stays in the MCC Museum at Lord's. Since 1998/99, a Waterford crystal trophy is given to the winners.

A Poem for the Urn

A poem is written on the side of the urn. It celebrates Bligh's team and their victory:

When Ivo goes back with the urn, the urn;

Studds, Steel, Read and Tylecote return, return;

The welkin will ring loud,

The great crowd will feel proud,

Seeing Barlow and Bates with the urn, the urn;

And the rest coming home with the urn.

Bligh's Cricket Clubs

Besides playing for England, Bligh also played for other teams. He played for Cambridge University. He also played for Kent. His first-class cricket career lasted from 1877 to 1883. He was chosen as President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) for 1900/01. He was also President of Kent County Cricket Club in 1892 and 1902.

Public Service and Titles

In 1900, Bligh became the Earl of Darnley. He inherited this title from his older brother, Edward. As an Irish peer, he did not automatically get a seat in the House of Lords. However, he was elected in March 1905. He then served in Parliament as an Irish Representative Peer.

A year after becoming Earl, Lord Darnley took on more public roles. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant and a Justice of the Peace for Kent. These roles involved helping with local government and law. He also became an Honorary Colonel in the military.

Family Life

Ivo Bligh married Florence Rose Morphy on February 9, 1884. Florence was from Australia. She had been a music teacher where Bligh stayed during his cricket tour.

They had two sons and one daughter:

• Esmé Bligh, 9th Earl of Darnley (1886–1955)
• Hon. Noel Gervase Bligh (1888–1984)
• Lady Dorothy Violet Bligh (1893–1976)

In 1884, he became a Christian. This happened after he was invited to a meeting by C. T. Studd.

Lord Darnley passed away in April 1927 in Shorne, Kent. He was 68 years old. His oldest son, Esmé, took over his family titles. After her husband's death, his wife, Florence, gave the famous Ashes urn to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). She died in August 1944. She was honored as one of the first Dames of the Order of the British Empire in 1919.

Ivo Bligh is buried in the family vault. This is at the church of St Mary Magdalene in Cobham, Kent.

See Also

• History of Test cricket (to 1883)
• Cobham Hall
• Earl of Darnley