John Blaquiere, 1st Baron de Blaquiere facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord de Blaquiere
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Lord de Blaquiere.
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| Chief Secretary for Ireland | |
| In office 1772–1776 |
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| Monarch | George III |
| Preceded by | George Macartney |
| Succeeded by | Sir Richard Heron, Bt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 May 1732 |
| Died | 27 August 1812 (aged 80) Bray, County Wicklow |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse | Eleanor Dobson (c. 1756–1833) |
John Blaquiere, 1st Baron de Blaquiere (born May 15, 1732 – died August 27, 1812), was an important figure in British history. He was a soldier, a diplomat, and a politician. He was also known as Sir John Blaquiere for a time. One of his most important jobs was serving as the Chief Secretary for Ireland from 1772 to 1776.
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Who Was John Blaquiere?
John Blaquiere was born in 1732. He was the fifth son of Jean de Blaquiere. His father was a French merchant who had moved to England in 1685. His mother was Marie Elizabeth de Varennes.
His Early Career
John Blaquiere started his career in the British Army. He joined the 18th Dragoons, which later became the 17th Dragoons. He rose through the ranks to become a lieutenant-colonel.
In 1771, he began working as a diplomat. He was appointed Secretary of Legation at the British Embassy in Paris. He held this important job until 1772.
Working in Ireland
In 1772, Lord Harcourt, who was the British Ambassador in Paris, became the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. John Blaquiere went with him to Ireland. There, he took on the role of Chief Secretary for Ireland. This was a very important position in the Irish government at the time.
The same year, he became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. This meant he was a trusted advisor to the King on Irish matters. Two years later, he was made a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath. This is a special honor given by the King. In 1773, he also received an honorary law degree from Trinity College Dublin.
John Blaquiere remained Chief Secretary until December 1776.
His Time in Parliament
While working in Ireland, John Blaquiere also became a politician. He was elected to the Irish House of Commons in 1773. He represented the area of Old Leighlin until 1783.
After that, he represented several other areas in the Irish Parliament:
- Enniskillen for a few months in 1783.
- Carlingford from 1783 to 1790.
- Charleville from 1790 to 1798.
- Newtownards from 1798 until 1801.
In 1784, he was given the title of Baronet. This meant he was known as Sir John Blaquiere. Later, in 1800, he was made a Baron in the Peerage of Ireland. This is a higher noble title, and he became known as Lord de Blaquiere. He received this honor because he supported the Act of Union. This act joined the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland to form the United Kingdom.
Lord de Blaquiere also served as a Member of the British House of Commons. He represented:
- Rye from 1801 to 1802.
- Downton from 1802 to 1806.
In 1803, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group of scientists.
His Family Life
Lord de Blaquiere married Eleanor Dobson in 1775. They had four sons and three daughters. One of their sons was Peter de Blaquière.
Lord de Blaquiere passed away in August 1812 in Bray, County Wicklow. He was 80 years old. His oldest son, John, inherited his titles. Lady de Blaquiere, his wife, died later in December 1833 in London.
