John Blount, 3rd Baron Mountjoy
Encyclopedia
John Blount, 3rd Baron Mountjoy (c. 1450 – 1485) was an English
peer and soldier.
(c.1416-1474) and Helena Byron. He inherited his title on the death of his nephew Edward Blount, 2nd Baron Mountjoy
in 1475. He was appointed captain of Guisnes and Hammes in the Pale of Calais
in 1477; and was continued in the office by Richard III in 1483.
At the end of Richard's reign, however, he was gravely ill. His brother James Blount
took over as captain at Hammes. A tense, even dramatic confrontation then unfolded within the Pale, with John Blount only nominally in command.
During 1484 James Blount became disaffected from Richard and a supporter of Henry of Richmond. Late in the year this became apparent to the king, when he asked for the return of the prisoner John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford
who had been held at Hammes for nearly a decade. Thomas Montgomery, who was deputising for the sick John Blount, also went over to Henry's side. James Blount had taken Oxford to Henry's court; and in December an attack was mounted on Hammes by John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham
, captain of Calais. In January 1485 Oxford with Thomas Brandon
successfully evacuated the force from Hammes, including Blount's wife and his brother James Blount
, and they joined Henry. Richard, seeing the affinity of William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings
(died 1483) falling away, negotiated inconsistently, with offers of pardons mixed with confiscations; and John of Gloucester
was brought in over Dynham. James Blount and others concerned took part in Henry's invasion force, which made him King Henry VII.
On his death on October 12, 1485 the title passed to his eldest son William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
peer and soldier.
Life
John Blount was born circa 1450 in Rock, Worcestershire, the second son of Walter Blount, 1st Baron MountjoyWalter Blount, 1st Baron Mountjoy
Sir Walter Blount, 1st Baron Mountjoy KG was an English baron and aristocrat.-Early life and family:Walter Blount was born circa 1416, the eldest son of Sir Thomas Blount and Margery Gresley and grandson of Sir Walter Blount.-Career:He was made Steward of the High Peak in Derbyshire and became a...
(c.1416-1474) and Helena Byron. He inherited his title on the death of his nephew Edward Blount, 2nd Baron Mountjoy
Edward Blount, 2nd Baron Mountjoy
Edward Blount, 2nd Baron Mountjoy was an English peer.Edward Blount was born in 1464 in London, the second son of Sir William Blount and Margaret de Echyngham...
in 1475. He was appointed captain of Guisnes and Hammes in the Pale of Calais
Pale of Calais
The Pale of Calais is a historical region of France that was controlled by the Kingdom of England until 1558.- History :After the Battle of Crécy in 1346, Edward III of England, having renounced the throne of France, kept some territory within France, namely Aquitaine and the area around Calais,...
in 1477; and was continued in the office by Richard III in 1483.
At the end of Richard's reign, however, he was gravely ill. His brother James Blount
James Blount
Sir James Blount was commander of the English fortress of Hammes, near Calais. When in 1484 the Earl of Oxford was imprisoned there, Blount was apparently persuaded to switch to the Lancastrian side. Blount and Oxford fled to join Henry Tudor , leaving his wife in charge...
took over as captain at Hammes. A tense, even dramatic confrontation then unfolded within the Pale, with John Blount only nominally in command.
During 1484 James Blount became disaffected from Richard and a supporter of Henry of Richmond. Late in the year this became apparent to the king, when he asked for the return of the prisoner John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford
John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford , the second son of John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford, and Elizabeth Howard, was one of the principal Lancastrian commanders during the English Wars of the Roses...
who had been held at Hammes for nearly a decade. Thomas Montgomery, who was deputising for the sick John Blount, also went over to Henry's side. James Blount had taken Oxford to Henry's court; and in December an attack was mounted on Hammes by John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham
John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham
John Dynham, 1st Baron Dynham was an English peer and politician. He was the Lord High Treasurer of England, Lord Chancellor of Ireland and Baron Dynham. He was the owner of Souldern...
, captain of Calais. In January 1485 Oxford with Thomas Brandon
Thomas Brandon (diplomat)
Sir Thomas Brandon, KG was an English soldier, courtier and diplomat.-Life:He was from a Lancastrian family, the son of William Brandon and Elizabeth Wingfield, and uncle to Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. His brother William was killed at the battle of Bosworth defending the standard of...
successfully evacuated the force from Hammes, including Blount's wife and his brother James Blount
James Blount
Sir James Blount was commander of the English fortress of Hammes, near Calais. When in 1484 the Earl of Oxford was imprisoned there, Blount was apparently persuaded to switch to the Lancastrian side. Blount and Oxford fled to join Henry Tudor , leaving his wife in charge...
, and they joined Henry. Richard, seeing the affinity of William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings
William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings
William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings KG was an English nobleman. A follower of the House of York, he became a close friend and the most important courtier of King Edward IV, whom he served as Lord Chamberlain...
(died 1483) falling away, negotiated inconsistently, with offers of pardons mixed with confiscations; and John of Gloucester
John of Gloucester
John of Gloucester was an illegitimate son of Richard III of England. John is so called because his father was Duke of Gloucester at the time of his birth....
was brought in over Dynham. James Blount and others concerned took part in Henry's invasion force, which made him King Henry VII.
Family
He married c.1477 Lora Berkeley, the daughter of Edward Berkeley of Beverstone, Gloucestershire. They had five children: William, Roger, Constance, John and Lora.On his death on October 12, 1485 the title passed to his eldest son William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy
William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy
Sir William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy KG was an English scholar and patron of learning.William Blount was born circa 1478 in Barton Blount, Derbyshire, the eldest son of John Blount, 3rd Baron Mountjoy and Lora Berkeley...
.