Sir Francis Blake, 3rd Baronet (c. 1774 – 10 September 1860) was a Northumbrian landowner, politician and baronet.

Background

Born at Heston

Heston

Heston is a place in the London Borough of Hounslow, west London. It is a suburban development area, based on a former farming village west south-west of Charing Cross.-History:...

, he was the son of Sir Francis Blake, 2nd Baronet

Sir Francis Blake, 2nd Baronet, of Twizell Castle

Sir Francis Blake was a High Sheriff of Northumberland , a major land owner of that county, and a political writer.He succeeded to the Baronetcy of Twizell Castle on the death of his father Sir Francis Blake, 1st Baronet, of Twizell Castle in 1780.He inherited substantial Northumberland estates...

 and his wife, the daughter of Alexander Douglas. In 1818, he succeeded his father as baronet.

Career

Blake was commissioned captain in the Northumberland Militia in 1794 and was appointed colonel of the Northumberland Fencibles in 1795. He entered the British House of Commons

British House of Commons

The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...

 in 1820, sitting as Member of Parliament

Member of Parliament

A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...

 (MP) for Berwick-upon-Tweed

Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)

Berwick-upon-Tweed is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...

 until 1826. A year later, he was reelected for the constituency, representing it until 1834. Blake owned estates at Twizell Castle

Twizell Castle

Twizell Castle is a Grade II* listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument which stands on a bend of the River Till at Tillmouth Park, Northumberland, northern England. Below it, the medieval Twizell bridge spans the river. It is located south-west of Berwick Upon Tweed. The site is visible...

, Tillmouth House, Seghill

Seghill

Seghill is a small village located on the Northumberland border which is the county boundary between Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. Seghill is situated between the villages of Seaton Delaval and Annitsford, about north of Newcastle upon Tyne....

 and Duddo

Duddo

Duddo is a village in Northumberland situated about south west of Berwick on Tweed.- Landmarks :The ruinous remains of Duddo Tower occupy a prominence to the south of the village....

, which later he sold for £45000 in 1823.

Death and legacy

He married Jane, daughter of William Neale, in 1827 but had no legitimate children and the baronetcy became extinct on his death. His illegitimate son Frederick Blake (1835-1909) suffered severe sunstroke while serving as an army officer and was confined to a mental asylum in 1873. His father granted him a life interest in property at Seghill and also bequeathed Helen, the widow of his brother Robert Dudley Blake (1776-1860). Blake's principal beneficiary was Captain Francis Blake (1832-1861) whose son Francis Douglas Blake

Sir Francis Blake, 1st Baronet, of Tillmouth Park

Sir Francis Douglas Blake, 1st Baronet CB DL was Deputy Lieutenant of Northumberland, Vice Lord Lieutenant in 1920 and 1931, a Justice of the Peace, and a Member of Parliament....

 was created a baronet in his own right in 1907. The family repurchased Seghill Park from the Treasury Solicitor following the intestacy of Helen Blake.