Edward Bligh, 5th Earl of Darnley (25 February 1795 – 12 February 1835), styled Lord Clifton until 1831, was a British peer and politician.

Background

Darnley was the second but eldest surviving son of John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley

John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley

John Bligh, 4th Earl of Darnley was a British peer and cricketer.He was the son of John Bligh, 3rd Earl of Darnley and succeeded his father as earl on the latter's death in 1781. He resided at Cobham Hall, near Gravesend in Kent....

, and Elizabeth, daughter of William Brownlow.

Political career

Darnley was returned to Parliament for Canterbury

Canterbury (UK Parliament constituency)

Canterbury is a county constituency which has been represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 1918. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....

 in 1818, a seat he held until 1830. In 1831 he succeeded his father in the earldom and took his seat in the House of Lords

House of Lords

The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....

. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of County Meath

Lord Lieutenant of Meath

This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of County Meath, Ireland. The office was created on 23 August 1831.* Edward Bligh, 5th Earl of Darnley 28 October 1831 – 11 February 1835...

 between 1831 and 1835.

Family

Lord Darnley married the Hon. Emma Jane, daughter of Henry Parnell, 1st Baron Congleton, in 1825. They had three sons and two daughters. He died in February 1835, aged 39, and was succeeded in the earldom by his eldest son, John Stuart Bligh, 6th Earl of Bligh. Lady Darnley died in March 1884.

External links

• Portrait of The Countess of Darnley at thepeerage.com