Sir Francis Blake, 3rd Baronet, of Twizell Castle

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

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 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 Member of Parliament (MP) for Berwick-upon-Tweed until 1826. A year later, he was reelected for the constituency, representing it until 1834. Blake owned estates at Twizell Castle, Tillmouth House, Seghill and Duddo, 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 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
• Leigh Rayment's list of baronets

External links

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

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Henry Heneage St Paul Viscount Ossulston	Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed 1820 – 1826 With: Viscount Ossulston 1820–1823 Sir John Beresford 1823–1826	Succeeded by John Gladstone Marcus Beresford
Preceded by John Gladstone Marcus Beresford	Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed 1827 – 1835 With: Marcus Beresford 1827–1832 Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin 1832–1835	Succeeded by James Bradshaw Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Francis Blake	Baronet (of Twizell Castle) 1818 – 1860	Extinct