John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley facts for kids
Portrait of Lord Darnley, attributed to Thomas Phillips
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name |
John Bligh
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| Born | 30 June 1767 Kingdom of Ireland |
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| Died | 17 March 1831 (aged 63) Cobham Hall, Kent, England |
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| Relations | See: Bligh family | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1789–1793 | MCC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1790–1796 | Kent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricInfo, 2 January 2022
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John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley (born June 30, 1767 – died March 17, 1831) was an important person in British history. He was known as the Earl of Darnley, a special title passed down in his family. He was also a talented cricketer.
Early Life and Education
John Bligh was born in 1767. His father was the 3rd Earl of Darnley. When his father passed away in 1781, John became the 4th Earl. This meant he inherited his family's title and responsibilities.
He went to Christ Church, Oxford, a famous university in England, in 1784. Later, in 1793, he earned a special degree called a Doctor of Civil Law. This showed his strong commitment to learning.
Cricket Career and Public Service
John Bligh lived at Cobham Hall in Kent, England. He was very active in his community. In 1809, he became a Lieutenant-Colonel in a local military group. This role meant he helped lead and organize soldiers in his area.
He was also a well-known amateur cricketer. An amateur player plays for fun, not as a job. John Bligh played in 27 important cricket matches between 1789 and 1796. These matches are called first-class cricket.
John and his brother, Edward Bligh, were big fans and supporters of the Kent cricket team. They helped make cricket popular in their region. The Bligh brothers were from Athboy, County Meath, in Ireland. They are often called the first Irish cricketers to play in first-class matches.
Family Life and Legacy
On August 26, 1791, John Bligh married Elizabeth Brownlow. They had seven children together. Their children were:
- Lady Catherine Bligh (1792–1812)
- John Bligh, Lord Clifton (1793–1793)
- Edward Bligh, 5th Earl of Darnley (1795–1835)
- Lady Mary Bligh (1796–1823)
- Hon. William Bligh (1797–1807)
- Hon. Sir John Duncan Bligh (1798–1872), who became a diplomat
- Lady Elizabeth Bligh (died 1872)
Lord Darnley passed away at his home, Cobham Hall, on March 17, 1831. His son, Edward, then became the 5th Earl of Darnley.
A place in Canada, Darnley Bay in the Northwest Territories, was named after him. This was done by a naturalist named John Richardson.
