John Arthur Douglas Bloomfield, 2nd Baron Bloomfield

JOHN ARTHUR DOUGLAS BLOOMFIELD Baron Bloomfield of Cimhaltha

Bloomfield was christened Arthur John Douglas Bloomfield at St Nicholas Church in Brighton, Sussex England on April 20 1805 with his sister, Hon Charlotte Louisa Bloomfield. He was 2 and 1/2, Charlotte was almost seven. Their parents were recorded as Major Bloomfield of the Royal Horse Artillery and Harriet, his wife.

John Arthur Douglas Bloomfield, 2nd Baron Bloomfield, GCB, PC, DL (12 November 1802 – 17 August 1879) was a British peer and diplomatist

Background

Bloomfield was the eldest son of Benjamin Bloomfield, 1st Baron Bloomfield and his wife Hariott Douglas. He was educated privately and at the young age of sixteen, he became an attaché to Vienna.

Career

From 1824, Bloomfield was attaché at Lisbon and was transferred as secretary of legation to Stuttgart in the following year. He was sent to Stockholm in 1826 and came as secretary of embassy to St Petersburg in 1839. Five years later, he was promoted to envoy. In 1846, he succeeded his father as baron and in 1848, he was awarded a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).

Bloomfield was appointed ambassador to Berlin in 1851 and on this occasion was advanced to a Knight Commander (KCB). In 1858, he was further honoured as a Knight Grand Cross (GBC). He reached his highest post as ambassador to Vienna in 1860 and was sworn of the Privy Council. On his retirement in 1871, he was created Baron Bloomfield, this time in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which enabled him to a seat in the House of Lords. He represented County Tipperary as a Deputy Lieutenant.

Marriage

On 4 September 1845, Bloomfield had married Hon. Georgiana Liddell, the youngest child of Thomas Liddell, 1st Baron Ravensworth and a former maid of honour to Queen Victoria.

Georgiana's accounts of married life and work overseas

Georgiana, Lady Bloomfield left her mark on this era by recording so much of her perspective in writing. She has published three significant books in her later years. Her early life as Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria, gave her experience and insight into court life and the politics. As was common with female authors, Lady Bloomfield recorded the spiritual and emotional moments of her subjects. She wrote about the moment she noticed the dying Lord Bloomfield with tears welling up in his eyes as he said good-bye to his son and young wife, on route to an overseas posting in Russia.

From what I have read so far by delving into both "Reminiscences" and "'The Memoir of Lord Bloomfield." Georgiana's intelligence and exposure to the politics of the day, has been the foundation by which she has has covered in significant depth and detail; politics, personal anecdotal experiences of famous characters and royalty, and insights into the daily lives of people living at many levels of status and class.

I haven't yet read all of Georgy's writing, but I doubt whether she would ever have published her own inner thoughts on her husband's affair with the Swedish actress Emilie Sophie Högquist, who went on to have an affair with King Oscar I of Sweden.

John Bloomfield's daughter, Tekla Högquist, was born in 1833. Georgiana was born only 10 years earlier in 1822. John Arthur Douglas married Georgy in 1845, therefore Bloomfield had the affair with Emilie Högquist (and two children) while he was still single. Emilie Högquist went on to have an affair with King Oscar.

At the age of 43, John Arthur Douglas Bloomfield sought out Georgiana, who had recently resigned from her position in Queen Victoria's court, as a suitable wife to support him in his duties. Bloomfield's father was a very close friend of Georgiana's father, Lord Ravensworth, and even Queen Victoria supported the marriage, as Mr Bloomfield was of course, working in public service. Lord Bloomfield (Snr) was still alive at the time of their marriage.

Georgiana and John Bloomfield were childless. We don't know why. It's possible the reason will never be known. Was Georgiana infertile? Was John exposed to sexual disease during his younger years in the court of Sweden. He was probably accompanying his father, Lord Benjamin Bloomfield in the Court of Bernadotte in Sweden at the time. Emilie Högquist was prostituted by her mother from a very young age, to the powerful men in the Swedish Court.

Books

1. Reminiscences of Court and Diplomatic Life (Vol I), 1883: record of Georgiana's career as a courtier and the wife of a diplomat.
2. Reminiscences of Court and Diplomatic Life (Vol II), 1883: record of Georgiana's career as a courtier and the wife of a diplomat.
3. 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).
4. 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).

Death

John Arthur Douglas, Lord Bloomfield died without a legitimate heir in 1879 at his home, Ciamhaltha, near Newport, County Tipperary. His titles became extinct. Bloomfield was buried in his family's vault at Borrisnafarney parish Church, beside the Loughton Demense and Moneygall, in County Offaly. An impressive memorial exists in the church in his memory.

Source

Wikipedia contributors, 'John Bloomfield, 2nd Baron Bloomfield', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 7 November 2012, 15:35 UTC, John Bloomfield, 2nd Baron Bloomfield [accessed 13 January 2014]

Genealogical Account

Lundy's Peerage
Information about the Baronetcy - including a note about illegitimate Albert Bloomfield

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;"