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Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley

1715 – 1747

British noble

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About Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley

Lived 1715 – 1747 (aged 31–32). Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley was a writer.

Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley (9 November 1715 – 22 July 1747), lord of the Manor of Cobham, Kent, was an Irish peer born of an English family who resided in Kent.

The eldest son of John Bligh, 1st Earl of Darnley and Lady Theodosia Hyde, Baroness Clifton, he was educated at Westminster and at Geneva. He succeeded his mother as Baron Clifton in 1722 and, in 1728, his father as Earl of Darnley.

Lord Darnley was a Grand Master of Freemasons (1737 to 1738), elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (in 1737) and in 1742 was appointed a Lord of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales: a position that he held until his death. He was one of the Whigs who, under the auspices of William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath, opposed Robert Walpole's office. Although he never married, he is reputed to have been the lover of the popular Irish actress Margaret Woffington.

According to Westminster Abbey's Funeral Book and Burke's Peerage he died at Cobham Hall, the family seat, and was buried in Westminster Abbey on 1 August 1747, aged 31.

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Important facts

Born
1715
Birth century
Died
1747, Manor of Cobham, Kent
Occupation
Education
Westminster School
Awards
Fellow of the Royal Society

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Frequently asked questions

Who was Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley?

British noble

When was Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley born?

Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley was born in 1715.

When did Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley die?

Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley died in 1747 in Manor of Cobham, Kent.

What was Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley's occupation?

Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley was a writer.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley

· Wikidata: Q5341920

· DBpedia: Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley. https://biography.guide/edward-bligh-2nd-earl-of-darnley/

MLA: "Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/edward-bligh-2nd-earl-of-darnley/.

Chicago: "Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/edward-bligh-2nd-earl-of-darnley/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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