Benjamin Bloomfield, Baron Bloomfield of Oakhampton and Redwood

Lieutenant-General Benjamin Bloomfield, 1st Baron Bloomfield GCB GCH (13 April 1768 – 15 August 1846) was a British Army officer who saw action at the Battle of Vinegar Hill in June 1798 during the Irish Rebellion. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Plymouth from 1812 from 1818 and served as keeper of the privy purse and private secretary to the Prince Regent 1817-22, [1] before becoming Commanding Officer of the garrison at Woolwich in 1826.

Lt-Gen. Bloomfield is best known for his 27-year relationship with George IV, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. First serving as Gentleman-in-Waiting to the Prince Regent, eventually serving as keeper of the privy purse and private secretary to the King. George IV ascended the throne in 1820.

Benjamin Bloomfield, 1st Baron Bloomfield, as Keeper of His Majesty's Privy Purse at the Coronation of George IV, by Henry Meyer, after Philip Francis Stephanoff, published 1826 - NPG D31893 - © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Bloomfield was born in 1768, the son of John Bloomfield and Anne Charlotte Waller and educated at the Royal Military Academy Woolwich. He joined the Royal Artillery and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1781.

He married Harriott Douglas, daughter of Thomas Douglas, on 7 September 1797. The couple had a son, John Arthur Douglas Bloomfield, 2nd Baron Bloomfield of Ciamhaltha (1802–1879), and three daughters, Charlotte, Georgina who married Henry Trench, and Harriott who married Colonel Thomas Henry Kingscote - I think they had two daughters named Charlotte, who both died in childhood. - JG

He served in Newfoundland, Gibraltar, and at Brighton in 1806, where, as a brevet Major, he was in charge of a troop of the Royal Horse Artillery (he was also appointed a Gentleman in Waiting in that year). In 1814 he was promoted to Major-General. By 1826 he was Commanding Officer of the garrison at Woolwich. He became Colonel Commandant of the Royal Horse Artillery. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Plymouth from 1812 from 1818, and made a Privy Councillor in 1817. He was an Aide-de-Camp 1811–1814, was Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal to the Prince of Wales, and was Private Secretary to the King, Keeper of the Privy Purse, and Receiver of the Duchy of Cornwall 1817–1822. He was knighted in 1815, and received the GCB in 1822, and ennobled as Lord Bloomfield in 1825.

Details of Bloomfield's later life is available online in his memoir: Memoir of Benjamin, Lord Bloomfield, G.C.B., G.C.H, Vol I and II, edited by Georgiana Liddell, Lady Bloomfield. Georgiana is Baron Bloomfield's daughter-in-law, wife of John Arthur Douglas Bloomfield. The memoir contains a very short overview of Bloomfield's early life, his parent's marriage, which was not approved, and a few family stories told as vignettes. Most of the memoirs are posthumous compilations of writing in diaries and letters by Bloomfield after he was appointed as Minister to Sweden. It includes comprehensive and thoughtfully edited letters to Harriott while Bloomfield was posted in Sweden, in the Court of King Charles John (Swedish: Karl Johan) known as Bernadotte. Georgiana titles the King as Carl XIV Johan.

"In 1828, he (Lord Bloomfield) was called home to attend the death-beds of his mother and his dearly-loved child Charlotte ; the latter died at the Stud House, Hampton Court."

Bloomfield was serving in Sweden as Envoy- Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Bernadotte, King of Sweden, at the time of Charlotte's death. Bloomfield's mother was Jane Charlotte Waller.

Baron Bloomfield died in 1846. His body is interred at Borrisnafarney Parish Church in the Bloomfield Mausoleum, located 1.5 miles from the village of Moneygall beside the Loughton Estate in County Offaly, Ireland.

SOURCE: Wikipedia contributors, 'Benjamin Bloomfield, 1st Baron Bloomfield', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 7 January 2014, 23:53 UTC, Wikipedia

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While the TV series Blackadder is fictional comedy, Edmund Blackadder could be playing Sir Benjamin Bloomfield in Blackadder the third. Sir Benjamin became friends with the Prince Regent as a young captain, and was first appointed to the court as Gentleman Attendant to the Prince of Wales - without any pay, as the family reported. By 1815 Bloomfield had risen to Private Secretary & Keeper of the Privy Purse, however he later fell out of favour with the King, and his position of confidence and closeness was gradually reduced. Lord Bloomfield went on to serve successful diplomatic posts, and his son, John Arthur Douglas Bloomfield also held important posts as a diplomat.

Obituary

"...Lord Bloomfield long known as a favourite of George the Fourth died on Saturday at his residence in Portman Square in the seventy ninth year of his age.

Benjamin Bloomfield was the eldest son of Mr John Bloomfield of Newport in the county of Tipperary. He entered the Artillery service at the age of fourteen but throughout his long career he was regarded more as a courtier and diplomatist than as a military officer.

In 1806 he entered the Household of the Prince of Wales and so useful did he become that his Royal master delighted to honour him intrusting him latterly with the offices of Receiver General of the Dutchy of Cornwall, Keeper of the Privy Purse, Private Secretary and confidential adviser.

He seems never to have experienced a slight or a fall at the hands of his capricious patron In 1822 he was sent as Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the King of Sweden and on his return in 1825 be was raised to the rank of a Baron in the Peerage of Ireland by the title of Lord Bloomfield. He next succeeded to the command of the Royal Artillery at Woolwich an office which he resigned some months ago from weakness of Health. The first Lord Bloomfield is succeeded in his titles and estates by his eldest son now British Minister at the Court of St Petersburg .,..."

The Spectator, Volume 19 (1846), F.C. Westley, page 801

Lord Bloomfield GCB GCH Aug 15 In Portman square aged 78.

The Right Hon Benjamin Bloomfield Baron Bloomfield of Oakhampton and Redwood in the county of Tipperary GCB and GCH, a Privy Councillor, a Lieutenant General in the army, Colonel Commandant of the Royal Horse Artillery and Governor of Fort Charles Jamaica.

Lord Bloomfield was born on the 13th of April 1768 and was the only son of John Bloomfield esq of Newport co Tipperary by Charlotte eldest daughter of Samuel Waller esq. and niece to Lord Chancellor Jocelyn.

He obtained his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the artillery on the 24th of May 1781 was advanced to the rank of First Lieutenant on the 21st of November 1787 and to that of Captain on the 9th of September 1794.

During the early part of the French revolutionary war the great guns of our naval force were much more in requisition than that branch of the military service to which Lord Bloomfield belonged and as he received an important appointment in civil life forty years ago he has all through his long career been regarded more as a courtier and a diplomatist than as a military officer.

In the year 1806 he became a gentleman attendant upon the Prince of Wales afterwards George IV For an office in the household of that illustrious personage, Major Bloomfield was pre eminently qualified.

The rank of Major by brevet had been conferred upon him on the 1st of January in the preceding year but much higher promotions now awaited him In a rapid appreciation of human character in a familiar acquaintance with the best society few men exceeded Major Bloomfield.

Shrewd and adroit he was just the man for George IV., well qualified to obtain for him any species of information which could promote his interest, or gratify his wishes ; and prepared to execute for his patron any practicable scheme which was likely to minister to his love of power or of pleasure yet ; such was the caution and circumspection of Major Bloomfield that he managed to reconcile great zeal in the service of his royal master with a due regard to reputation and decorum.

His useful qualities were very soon perceived by the Prince, who speedily advanced him to the rank of Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal ; and in the year 1815 he received the honour of knighthood, and became Sir Benjamin Bloomfield by which designation he is perhaps better known than by his later title.

Sir John M Mahon had for many years enjoyed in a remarkable degree the confidence of George IV but as every period of court favour must Sooner or later reach its termination. Sir John found it necessary in the year 1817 to resign and Sir Benjamin Bloomfield succeeded him as Receiver General of the Duchy of Cornwall Keeper of the Privy Purse and Private Secretary to his patron who was then Prince Regent at the same time Sir Benjamin was sworn a member of the Privy Council. For a period of five years from that date he was the confidential adviser of the Prince and was so to speak the chief executive officer of his will and pleasure In the early part of the reign of George III.

It was said that there existed behind the throne a power greater than the throne itself. But that species of influence disappeared during the administration of Pitt and was only renewed with the Regency. Sir John M Mahon, Sir W Knighton and Sir B Bloomfield were at different times the depositories of that power. George IV unlike either of his successors endeavoured to preserve in his own hands as much of the power and patronage of the crown as could possibly be withheld from his acknowledged and responsible ministers In the exercise of that power and in the dispensation of that patronage whoever for the time being discharged the duties which devolved upon.

Sir Benjamin Bloomfield enjoyed no inconsiderable share but his authority was divided with some of the fairer and more frail portions of his Majesty's household. He contrived nevertheless to hold a very considerable proportion of power during his tenure of office which closed in the year 1822 and then having served a long probation both in camps and courts he was considered fully qualified to undertake the duties of a diplomatist and he was sent a Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the King of Sweden upon which occasion he received the distinction of a Civil Grand Cross of the Bath.

On his return in 1825 he was raised to the rank of a Baron in the peerage of Ireland by the title of Lord Bloomfield and in the meantime his military promotion proceeded without interruption. He became Lieut Colonel in the year 1806 Colonel by brevet on the 20th Feb 1812 Colonel Commandant on the 4th Nov 1823 a Major General in the army on the 4th June 1814 and Lieut General on the 22d July 1830. It was not until some time after his return from Sweden that he took the command of the Royal Regiment of Artillery in Woolwich in the exercise of which important office he was long known and much respected.

At Woolwich his numerous unostentatious acts of charity worked much general good. He was the founder of the regimental schools for children of soldiers belonging to the Ordnance corps. Some months ago the state of his health rendered him incapable of further service and he resigned his command after a connection with the Army which extended over a period of sixty five years.

Lord Bloomfield married Sept 7 1797 Harriet eldest daughter of John Douglas esq of Grantham co Lincoln and by that lady who is Ranger of Hampton Court Park he had issue one son and three daughters.

1. the Right Hon John Arthur Douglas now Lord Bloomfield
2. the Hon Harriet Anne married in 1833 to Thomas Henry Kingscote of Kingscote co Glouc esq Colonel of the North Gloucestershire militia and whose former wife was a daughter of the Duke of Beaufort
3. the Hon Georgiana Mary Emilia married in 1836 to Henry Trench esq younger son of William Trench esq of Cangort Park and cousin to Lord Ashtown and
4. the Hon Charlotte Bloomfield who died in 1828 in her thirteenth year.

The present Lord Bloomfield was born in 1802 He is now Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the court of St Petersburg and married in September last the Hon Georgiana Liddell youngest daughter of Lord Ravensworth The remains of the late Lord Bloomfield arrived at Laughton county Tipperary on the 22d Aug accompanied by the present peer The funeral was attended by the principal gentry of the country and a vast concourse of the tenantry on the Bloomfield estates.

Obituary - Lord Bloomfield The Gentleman's Magazine A. Dodd and A. Smith, 1846

Additional Biography

Family and Education

b. 13 Apr. 1768, o.s. of John Bloomfield of Newport, co. Tipperary by Charlotte, da. of Samuel Waller of Newport.1 educ. R.M.A. Woolwich 1779. m. 7 Sept. 1797, Harriott, da. of John Douglas of Grantham, Lincs., 1s. 3da. KCH 1815; kntd. 11 Dec. 1815; GCH 1819; GCB 1 Apr. 1822; cr. Baron Bloomfield [I] 14 May 1825.

Offices Held

2nd lt. RA 1781, 1st lt. 1787, capt.-lt. and capt. 1794, capt. 1799, brevet maj. 1805; maj. RA 1806, lt.-col. 1806-14; a.d.c. to the Prince Regent Feb. 1811-14; brevet col. 1812, maj.-gen. 1814; col. commdt. RA 1823-d., lt.-gen. 1830.

Gent. attendant to the Prince of Wales 1808-12; clerk marshal and chief equerry 1812-17; auditor and sec., duchy of Cornwall 1816-17; keeper of the privy purse and private sec. to the Prince Regent 1817-22; PC 15 July 1817; ranger, Hampton Court Park 1820-22; gov. Fort Charles, Jamaica 1822; envoy to Sweden 1823-33.

The end of Bloomfield's relationship with King George IV

Interesting detail about Bloomfield's declining relationship with King George IV. Bloomfield was placed in charge of the Privy Purse, and promised parliament to curb the King's reckless spending. He was also responsible for bribing publishers to keep disparaging cartoons of the King from being published. This turned out to be a fortuitous new source of income for publishers, but also put Bloomfield's relationship with the King in jeopardy. Once he became an impediment to the ambition of King's mistress, Lady Conyngham, he no longer held the confidence of King George IV and resigned his positions.

Estates of Bloomfield and Kingscote

Landed estates database: Bloomfield

"The Bloomfield family were originally settled at Eyre Court, county Galway, in the early 18th century. Benjamin Bloomfield of Eyre Court had three sons, John, ancestor of the Redwood family, county Tipperary, Joseph and Benjamin, ancestor of the Barons Bloomfield. In 1742 John Bloomfield of Redwood married Jane Jocelyn and their grandson, John Colpoys Bloomfield, married Frances Arabella, daughter and co heir of Sir John Caldwell, Baronet, of Castle Caldwell, county Fermanagh. In January 1851 the estate of John Colpoys Bloomfield of Castle Caldwell, county Fermanagh, amounting to 1,977 acres in county Tipperary (parishes of Lorrha and Dorrha, Lower Ormond), was advertised for sale. It was purchased by William Hort and George Armstrong for almost £13,000.

Sir Benjamin Bloomfield of Newport, county Tipperary, was a diplomat at the English Court in the early 19th century and in 1825 was created a peer as Baron Bloomfield. His son, the 2nd Lord Bloomfield, died childless in 1879 and his estate was inherited by his sister, the Honourable Harriett Mary Anne Kingscote of Gloucestershire. In the mid 19th century Lord Bloomfield's estate was in the barony of Owney and Arra, mainly in the parish of Killoscully but also in the parishes of Castletownarra, Kilcomenty, Kilnarath and also in the parish of Lorrha, barony of Lower Ormond. In the 1870s Lord Bloomfield of Ciamaltha, Newport, and London, owned 9,912 acres in county Tipperary."

Reference

P. A. Symonds, David R. Fisher, Bloomfield, Benjamin (1768-1846). Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986. Ref Volumes: 1790-1820
National Dictionary of Biography 1885-1900, Volume 05
Reminiscences of Court and Diplomatic Life (Vol I), 1883: record of Georgiana's career as a courtier and the wife of a diplomat.
Reminiscences of Court and Diplomatic Life (Vol II), 1883: record of Georgiana's career as a courtier and the wife of a diplomat.
Memoir of Benjamin, Lord Bloomfield, G.C.B., G.C.H, Vol I, edited by Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, memoirs of her father-in-law (1884).
Memoir of Benjamin, Lord Bloomfield, G.C.B., G.C.H, Vol II,, edited by Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, memoirs of her father-in-law (1884).
Information about the Baronetcy - including a note about illegitimate Albert Bloomfield
Lundy's Peerage

Other biographies

The following two biographies are useful because they are more comprehensive and better overall stories, not slanted particularly towards the military or politics.

https://upclosed.com/people/benjamin-bloomfield-1st-baron-bloomfield/

https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bloomfield,_1st_Baron_Bloo...

History of Parlaiment online - this one is odd and very unflattering. Whoever wrote it didn't like Bloomfield, and drew on gossip.

Ancestry

"John Bloomfield, Lieutenant of Grenadiers, married the beautiful Miss Waller. against the consent of her friends. This short romance was followed by a long romance of real life. Thrown off by all her family, she struggled through years of poverty and privation, and found that even the affection of an amiable husband could not quite console her for the consequences of self-will and disobedience. Many efforts were made to reconcile her to her parents, but they were inflexible, and forbade all intercourse with her brothers and sisters, leaving her to feel the truth which they had fore- told, with perhaps too much severity, considering her extreme youth and inexperience. After her marriage she lived at Bloomfield Lodge, Newport, Tipperary ; and once Lieut. Bloomfield, having been absent from home, was surprised on his return to find the little town illuminated. On inquiring the reason, he was informed that it was in honour of his wife having just given birth to a son and heir." - Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield, (1884) Memoir of Benjamin, Lord Bloomfield, G.C.B., G.C.H, Vol I and II. [1]

The Waller family have an extended family history in Newport, Tipperary. Charlotte's mother Anne, was a Jocelyn with a fascinating documented history.

Sources

[1] Details of Bloomfield's life is available online in his memoir: Memoir of Benjamin, Lord Bloomfield, G.C.B., G.C.H, Vol I and II, edited by Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield (1884). There is a very short overview of Bloomfield's early life, his parent's marriage, which was not approved, and a few family stories told as vignettes. Most of the memoirs are posthumous compilations of writing in diaries and letters by Bloomfield after he was appointed as Minister in Sweden.

Family of John Benjamin Bloomfield and Anne Charlotte Waller

Bloomfield Mausoleum

The Borrisnafarney Parish Church in the Bloomfield Mausoleum, located 1.5 miles from the village of Moneygall beside the Loughton Estate in County Offaly, Ireland.

"The interior name plaques, that commemorate those who lie there, ensure that history will not forget them: they read 'Thomas Ryder Pepper 1828; Mrs Bloomfield 1828; Mrs Ryder Pepper 1841; Lieutenant General Benjamin Baron Bloomfield 1846;"