i82 BLAKENEY BLAIR i.e. Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillemot," Barony [S.] {Murray), see "Dunmore," Earldom of [S.], cr. 1686. BLAIR Blair, Marquessate, see " Mar," Dukedom, cr. 171 5 by the titular James III; and vol. i. Appendix F. BLAKENEY OF CASTLE BLAKENEY BARONY [I.] I. William Blakeney, s. and h. of William B., of 1 ^ Thomastown, co. Limerick, l>. at Mount Blakeney in ' ■' that CO. 1672; when only 18 organised a force to keep ^ the " Rapparees" at bay ; joined the army in Flanders as a volunteer; became Ensign after the siege of Venloo in 1702. M.P. for Kilmallock 1725-57. Owing to the long peace his promotion was slow; at the age of 53, he became Col. of the Enniskillens (27th Foot) 1725, which colonelcy he retained till his death; Brig. Gen. 1743; Major Gen. 1745 ; and Lieut. Gov. of Stirling, where, in 1745, he distinguished himself by the defeat of the insurgent Highlanders in their siege of Stirling Castle; Lieut. Gov. of Plymouth 1746-48; Lieut. Gen. 1 747, and Lieut. Gov. of Minorca 1 748-56, where for 8 years he was in chief command. His gallant defence of Fort St. Philip in that island in 1756 (at the age of 84) for 70 days (a defence rendered desperate by the retreat of Admiral Byng therefrom), and the honourable capitulation thereof to the French, are matters of history. (^) On his return home he was made K.B. 27 Nov. 1756, and on 18 Dec. 1756 was cr. BARON BLAKENEY OF CASTLE BLAKENEY, co. Galway [I.]. This most popular General d. unm., 20 Sep., and was i>ur., with some state, 9 Oct. 1761, in Westm. Abbey, aged 89, when his Peerage became extinct. Will dat. 4 Jan. 1749, pr. 7 Oct. 1 76 1, by his br., Robert Blakeney, of Mount Blakeney afsd., whom he made his sole heir. BLANDFORD i.e. "Blandford," Marquessate {Churchill), cr. 1702 with the Duke- dom OF Marlborough, which see. BLANKNEY See " WiDDRiNGTON, OF Blankney, CO Lincoln," Barony {Widdrington), cr. (>i^-i, forfeited 1716. (^) Lady Mary Montagu writes (28 Dec. 1756), very unfairly, "the mean capitulator is rewarded." V.G.
