William Blamire

Blamire was born at The Oaks, Dalston, England, to a family that originated in Cumberland. He was the eldest son of the naval surgeon William Blamire,[2] and Jane, the third daughter of John Christian and sister of the politician John Christian Curwen.[2] The Cumberland poet Susanna Blamire was his aunt.[3] William was baptised in Dalston by the philosopher William Paley, the vicar there.[2] He was privately tutored at Carlisle, and subsequently, from 1805 to 1808, educated at Westminster School, and, from 1808 to 1811,[4] at Christ Church, Oxford, from which he graduated in 1811.[5]

Blamire was a Cumberland farmer who served as High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1828.[6] He entered the British House of Commons in 1831 as MP for Cumberland,[6] as which he served until the constituency was abolished the following year, after which he stood successfully for the new constituency that replaced it, East Cumberland.[6] Blamire resigned as Member of Parliament in 1836, when, after the passing of the Tithe Commutation Act 1836 he was appointed the first Chief Tithe Commissioner.[7] The Commission reported in 1851 and triggered various new acts and reforms.[8] Blamire retired in 1860.[7]

In 1834, Blamire married his cousin Dorothy.[9] She was the youngest daughter of John Taubman and the widow of Mark Wilks, who had governed Saint Helena during the time of Napoleon's exile there.[9] Blamire's wife died in 1857:[10] he survived her, for five years, until 1862.[11] Several months after his death, a prize in his name was endowed for achievements in agriculture.[12]

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Blamire, William". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Blamire