Modern English biography, volume 1 (of 4), A-H by Frederic Boase

(1875). BLENKINS, WILLIAM BAZETT GOODWIN. Captain 6 Bombay native infantry 26 April 1842 to death; C.B. 4 July 1843. _d._ Bombay 12 June 1852. BLENKIRON, WILLIAM (_son of Mr. Blenkiron of Marrick near Richmond, Yorkshire, farmer_). _b._ Marrick 1807; a general agent at 78½ Wood st. Cheapside, London 1834–48; a breeder of race horses at Dalston 1848, at Middle park near Eltham 1852 to death; his breeding stud gradually became the largest in England; held his first sale of blood stock at Middle park June 1856, held two annual sales there 1867 to death; bred Hermit winner of the Derby 1867, and Gamos winner of the Oaks 1870; gave 5000 guineas for Blink Bonny, 5000 guineas for Blair Athol, and 5800 guineas for Gladiateur; founded the great two year old race at Newmarket, namely The Middle Park Plate 1866. _d._ Middle Park 25 Sep. 1871 in 64 year. _Rice’s History of the British turf ii_, 338–44 (1879); _Gent. Mag. iii_, 451–62 (1869); _I.L.N. lix_, 377 (1871), _portrait_; _Illust. sporting and dramatic news i_, 181 (1874), _portrait_; _Sporting life 27 Sep. 1871_, _p._ 2, _cols._ 1, 5, 4 _Oct._ _p._ 2, _col._ 6. BLEWITT, JONATHAN (_son of Jonas Blewitt of London, organist who d. 1805_). _b._ about 1781; organist in London, at Haverhill and at Brecon; organist of St. Andrew’s Dublin; composer and director of music at T. R. Dublin; grand organist to Freemasons of Ireland; wrote pantomime music for most of the London theatres 1826–52; director of music at Sadler’s Wells Theatre 1828–29, at Vauxhall gardens 1838 and at Tivoli gardens Margate; wrote a few light operas and upwards of 2000 pieces of vocal music, most of them comic songs, the best known are _Barney Brallaghan’s Courtship_ and _The merry little fat grey man_ 1845, which he used to sing inimitably; composed the tune of _The Perfect Cure_ 1844 which was associated with a now forgotten song called _The monkey and the nuts_, 20 years afterwards it was utilised by James Hurst Stead who became known as The Perfect Cure, and cleared more than £2000 by linking the tune with other words. _d._ London 4 Sep. 1853 in 73 year. BLEWITT, OCTAVIAN (_son of John Edwards Blewitt of London, merchant 1784–1860_). _b._ St. Helen’s place, Bishopsgate, London 3 Oct. 1810; ed. at Plymouth gr. sch.; travelled in Italy, Egypt, Greece, Turkey and other countries 1837–39; secretary of Royal literary fund in London 13 March 1839 to death; elected a member of the Athenæum club 1848 by a majority of 112 votes to 2; F.G.S. 1835; a knight of order of Leopold of Belgium 1872; edited the newspaper portion of the _Gardener’s Chronicle_ 1840–69; author of _A panorama of Torquay_ 1830; _A sketch of the district comprised between the Dart and the Teign_ 1832; _Treatise on the happiness arising from the exercise of the Christian faith_ 1832; _Handbook for travellers in Central Italy_ 1843 (_anon._) _2 ed._ (_with the author’s name_) 1850; _Handbook for travellers in Southern Italy_