Sir Francis Blake, 3rd Baronet, of Twizell Castle

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

Background

Born at Heston, he was the son of Sir Francis Blake, 2nd Baronet and his wife, the daughter of Alexander Douglas. In 1818, he succeeded his father as baronet.

Career

Blake was commissioned a captain in the Northumberland Militia in 1794 and was appointed colonel of the Northumberland Fencibles in 1795. He entered the British House of Commons in 1820, sitting as a member of parliament (MP) for Berwick-upon-Tweed until 1826. A year later, he was re-elected for the constituency, representing it until 1834. Blake owned estates at Twizell Castle, Tillmouth House, Seghill and Duddo, which 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 upon 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 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.

References

• Historical list of MPs: B, part 2^[usurped]
• Leigh Rayment's list of baronets

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir Francis Blake