Martin Bladen MP (1680 - 1746)

Born 1680 in Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Died 15 Feb 1746 at about age 66 in England

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Biography

Birth and Childhood

Martin, born in 1680, was the son of Nathaniel Bladen of Hemsworth, Yorkshire, and Isabella Fairfax, daughter of Sir William Fairfax of Steeton, Yorkshire.^[1][2][3] Nathaniel and Isabel had the following children:

• William, Esq., married to Ann Van Swearingen;^[4]
• Martin, Esq. (the subject of this profile), married to Frances Unknown (surname possibly Jory);^[4]
• Isabella;
• Catherine, married to Martin Lister, Knt., and Chrles Lyttleton, Knt;^[4]
• Frances, married to William Hammond, Esq.;^[4] and
• Elizabeth, married to James Ruthven and Edward Hawke, Esq.^[4] She was the mother of Admiral Lord Hawke.^[5]

In Martin's youth, he was a student first at a private, rural school and from 1695-1697 attended Westminster School.^[2][6]

Marriage

Martin first married Mary Gibbs, the second daughter of Col. Gibbs and secondly, Frances Unknown (surname possibly Jory) on 29 March 1728.^[1][2] Frances was the niece and heiress of Col. Joseph Jory of Aldborough Hatch, Wessex, and widow of John Foche of Aldborough Hatch, Barking, Essex.^[1][2][7] Through Martin's second marriage to Frances, he acquired a considerable estate, upon which he built an expensive home, which was later destroyed.^[1][2]

Notable Events

• Colonel Martin Bladen (1680–1746) was a Commissioner of the Board of Trade and Plantations, a Privy Councillor in Ireland.^[3]
• Joined the army. Served in the low countries and Spain.^[3][6]
• Became aide-de-camp to Henri de Massue de Ruvigny, Earl of Galway and rose the the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.^[2][6]
• In Spain, he was the commanding officer of his kinsman William Fairfax of Belvoir before William came to VA.^[3]
• 1712: Published a translation of "Caesar's Commentaries of His Wars in Gaul, and Civil War with Pompey, with Supplement Commentaries and Life." It was dedicated to the Duke of Marlborough. The 7th edition was published in 1770.^[2][6]
• 1713: Ran for election to Parliament from Saltash, Cornwall and lost.^[1][2]
• 1714: Appointed Comptroller of the Mint.^[1][2][6]
• 1715: Ran again for election to Parliament on the Whig ticket from Saltash, Cornwall and again lost.^[2]
• 1715-1717: Secretary to the lords justices of Ireland.^[1]
• 1715-1734: Served in Parliament from Stockbridge, Hampshire, where he was Member of Parliament for 19 years.^[2]
• 1717-1746: Commissioner of Trade and Plantations, where, due to his efficiency, he was known as "Trade," and his colleagues were called the "Board."^[2][3]
• 1717: Refused the appointment of envoy extraordinary to Spain.^[2]
• He "materially aided" the "advancement" of his nephew, Admiral Lord Hawke.^[2][6]
• 1732: Appointed First Commissary and Plenipotentiary to the conference at Antwerp for drawing up tariffs between Britain, the Emperor of Germany, and the States General. He was a supporter of Sir Robert Walpole, and often spoke in debates on fiscal, naval or military matters. Horace Walpole stated that Martin's "adherence being so marked that it was proposed to impeach him for his share in the Antwerp conference."^[2]
• 1734-1741: Served in Parliament from Maldon, Essex.^[2][6]
• 1741-1745/6: Served in Parliament from Portsmouth until his death.^[2]

Death

Martin died 15 Feb 1746.^[1][2][6] He was interred in the chancel of Stepney Church. The inscription on the tomb is preserved in Lysons.^[6][8]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} R. Sedgwick (Ed.). Bladen, Martin (?1680-1746), of Aldborough Hatch, Essex (Published: The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1715-1754), (Weblink The History of Parliament).
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17} Leslie Stephen et al. The Dictionary of National Biography (London: Oxford University Press, 1921), Vol. , pp. 616, 617, (WebLink Internet Archive).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} Randolph W. Tayloe. The Tayloes of Virginia and Allied Families (Publisher: Not given, 1963), p. 92, (WebLink FamilySearch).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Douglas Richardson. Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols, ed. Kimball G. Everingham (Salt Lake City: The author, 2013), Vol I, p. 379, FAIRFAX 17.
5. ↑ Leslie Stephen et al. The Dictionary of National Biography (London: Oxford University Press, 1921), Vol. , pp. 616, 617, (WebLink Internet Archive).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8} J. Horsfall Turner. Yorkshire County Magazine (Yorks: T. Harrison and Sons, 1893), Vol. III, pp. 135, 136, (WebLink Genealogy Gophers).
7. ↑ Vere Langford Oliver (Ed.). The Monumental Inscriptions of the British West Indies (Dorchester: F. G. Longman, The Friary Press, 1927), p. 148, (WebLink Genealogy Gophers).
8. ↑ Notes and Queries: A Medium of Inter-Communication for Literary Men, General Readers, Etc. (London: Office, 32 Wellington St., Strand, W.C., January-June, 1865), Third Series, Vol. VII, p. 326, (WebLink Genealogy Gophers).

Acknowledgements

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