Difference between revisions of "Charles Blount 1563-1606"

Latest revision as of 05:54, 17 August 2022

Charles BLOUNT, 1st Earl of Devonshire, 8th Baron Mountjoy 1563-1606

Armorial stamp of Charles Blount (British Armorial Bindings).

Biographical Note

Second son of James Blount, 6th baron Mountjoy (1532/3-1581) and Catherine (d.1576), daughter of Sir Thomas Leigh. It is believed that he studied at Oxford, but didn't attain a degree. Entered Clifford's Inn and transferred to Middle Temple in 1579. In London he was introduced to life at court by his brother William, and soon advanced into the upper echelons of English politics and society, becoming a favourite of Elizabeth I, an MP, and an ambitious soldier. He frequently absented himself from court and parliamentary duties in order to further his military career. Returning to court after one such expedition, the Queen scolded him: "you shall go when I send you; in the mean time, see that you lodge in the court where you may follow your books, read, and discourse of warre".

Books

His will makes no mention of his library, but it may have been included in the bequest of all his moveable goods, which included plate and jewels, for the sole benefit of his wife, Penelope, daughter of Walter Devereux, first earl of Essex. In 1602 gifted money to the Bodleian for the purchase of books, and a specially cut stamp (also featuring a sun charged with an eye) is used on these bindings. Numerous of Blount's books have been identified, and a number are listed in the British Armorial Bindings Database. Examples: found in multiple libraries, among them the Bodleian, University College, Oxford and the Clements Collection National Art Library.

Characteristic Markings

Three armorial binding stamps have been identified as Blount's, all featuring a sun charged with an eye, though the one pictured here appears to be the only stamp used in his personal library. A copy of Vitæ et icones Sultanorum Turcicorum (1596) in the Clements Collection National Art Library has this binding stamp as well as the inscription “CMountioy” on its title page. Charles' son, Mountjoy seems to have used a very similar stamp on his bindings.

Sources

British Armorial Bindings
Maginn, Christopher. "Blount, Charles, eighth Baron Mountjoy and earl of Devonshire (1563–1606), soldier and administrator." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Naunton, R. Fragmenta regalia: memoirs of Elizabeth, her court and favourites (1824)
Will of Sir Charles Blount, Earl of Devon Lord Mountjoy, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland of Kingdom of Ireland, PROB 11/108/24, The National Archive.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 __NOTITLE__
-===[[name::Charles]] [[name::BLOUNT]], 1st [[personal title::earl of Devonshire]] [[date of birth::1563]]-[[date of death::1606]]===
+===[[name::Charles]] [[name::BLOUNT]], 1st [[personal title::Earl of Devonshire]], 8th [[personal title::Baron Mountjoy]] [[date of birth::1563]]-[[date of death::1606]]===
 [[file:CharlesBlountArmorialBinding.jpg|thumb|Armorial stamp of Charles Blount (British Armorial Bindings).]]
 ====Biographical Note====
-Second son of [[family::James Blount]], 6th baron Mountjoy (1532/3-1581) and [[family::Catherine Leigh|Catherine]] (d.1576), daughter of Sir Thomas Leigh. It is believed that he studied at [[education::University of Oxford|Oxford]], but didn't attain a degree. Entered [[organisations::Clifford's Inn]] and transferred to [[organisations::Middle Temple]] in 1579. In London he was introduced to life at court by his brother [[family::William Blount|William]], and soon advanced into the upper echelons of English politics and society, becoming a favourite of [[associates::Elizabeth I]], [[occupation::MP]], and ambitious [[occupation::soldier]]. He frequently absented himself from court and parliamentary duties in order to further his military career. Returning to court after one such expedition, the Queen scolded him: "you shall go when I send you; in the mean time, see that you lodge in the court where you may follow your books, read, and discourse of warre".
+Second son of [[family::James Blount]], 6th baron Mountjoy (1532/3-1581) and [[family::Catherine Leigh|Catherine]] (d.1576), daughter of Sir Thomas Leigh. It is believed that he studied at [[education::University of Oxford|Oxford]], but didn't attain a degree. Entered [[organisations::Clifford's Inn]] and transferred to [[organisations::Middle Temple]] in 1579. In London he was introduced to life at court by his brother [[family::William Blount|William]], and soon advanced into the upper echelons of English politics and society, becoming a favourite of [[associates::Elizabeth I]], an [[occupation::MP]], and an ambitious [[occupation::soldier]]. He frequently absented himself from court and parliamentary duties in order to further his military career. Returning to court after one such expedition, the Queen scolded him: "you shall go when I send you; in the mean time, see that you lodge in the court where you may follow your books, read, and discourse of warre".
 ====Books====
-Numerous of Blount's books have been identified, and a number are listed in the British Armorial Bindings Database. Examples are found in multiple libraries, among them the Bodleian, University College, Oxford and the Clements Collection National Art Library. His will makes no mention of his library, but it may have been included in the bequest of all his moveable goods, which included plate and jewels, for the sole benefit of his wife, [[family::Penelope Rich|Penelope]], daughter of [[associates::Walter Devereux]], first earl of Essex. In 1602 gifted money to the Bodleian for the purchase of books, and a specially cut stamp (also featuring a sun charged with an eye) is used on these bindings.
+His will makes no mention of his library, but it may have been included in the bequest of all his moveable goods, which included plate and jewels, for the sole benefit of his wife, [[family::Penelope Rich|Penelope]], daughter of [[associates::Walter Devereux]], first earl of Essex. In 1602 gifted money to the Bodleian for the purchase of books, and a specially cut stamp (also featuring a sun charged with an eye) is used on these bindings. Numerous of Blount's books have been identified, and a number are listed in the British Armorial Bindings Database. Examples: found in multiple libraries, among them the Bodleian, University College, Oxford and the Clements Collection National Art Library.
 ====Characteristic Markings====
-Three armorial binding stamps have been identified as Blount's, all featuring a sun charged with an eye.
+Three armorial binding stamps have been identified as Blount's, all featuring a sun charged with an eye, though the one pictured here appears to be the only stamp used in his personal library. A copy of ''Vitæ et icones Sultanorum Turcicorum'' (1596) in the Clements Collection National Art Library has this binding stamp as well as the inscription “CMountioy” on its title page. Charles' son, [[crossreference::Mountjoy Blount 1597-1666|Mountjoy]] seems to have used a very similar stamp on his bindings.
 ====Sources====
 <div id="sourcelist">
+*[https://armorial.library.utoronto.ca/stamp-owners/BLO001 British Armorial Bindings]
 *Maginn, Christopher. [https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/2683 "Blount, Charles, eighth Baron Mountjoy and earl of Devonshire (1563–1606), soldier and administrator."] ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''.
 *Naunton, R. ''Fragmenta regalia: memoirs of Elizabeth, her court and favourites'' (1824)
-*[https://armorial.library.utoronto.ca/stamp-owners/BLO001 British Armorial Bindings]
 *[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D942051 Will of Sir Charles Blount, Earl of Devon Lord Mountjoy, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland of Kingdom of Ireland], PROB 11/108/24, The National Archive.
 </div>
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 [[Category:Members of Parliament]]
 [[Category:Earls]]
+[[Category:Armorial Stamps]]