John Bligh, 6th Earl of Darnley

John Stuart Bligh, 6th Earl of Darnley (16 April 1827 – 14 December 1896), styled Lord Clifton from 1831 to 1835, lord of the Manor of Cobham, Kent, was a British peer.

The eldest son of Edward Bligh, 5th Earl of Darnley, he succeeded his father in the earldom in 1835. He was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Kent on 3 September 1847.[1] Darnley matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford on 15 May 1845 and received his B.A. in 1848 and his M.A. in 1869.[2]

An amateur cricketer, Bligh made a single appearance in first-class cricket for the Gentlemen of Kent against the Gentlemen of England at Canterbury in 1848.[3] Batting twice in the match, he was dismissed without scoring in the Gentlemen of Kent first innings by Jones Nash, while in their second innings he was dismissed for 2 runs by Harvey Fellows.[4]

On 24 July 1848, he was commissioned captain of the Cobham Troop of the West Kent Yeomanry.[5] He was promoted to major on 18 April 1859,[6] and to lieutenant-colonel on 28 April 1863.[7] He retired from the Yeomanry on 9 September 1874, retaining his rank.[8][9]

On 31 August 1850, Darnley married Lady Harriet Mary Pelham, the daughter of Henry Pelham, 3rd Earl of Chichester, by whom he had eight children:[10]

• Edward Bligh, 7th Earl of Darnley (1851–1900)
• Lady Edith Louisa Mary Bligh (22 August 1853 – 20 June 1904), married George Burvill Rashleigh on 18 August 1882 and had issue[11]
• Lady Kathleen Susan Emma Bligh (31 October 1854 – 13 November 1928), married William Vesey Brownlow
• Ivo Bligh, 8th Earl of Darnley (1859–1927)
• Lady Alice Isabella Harriet Bligh (18 December 1860 – 15 June 1943)
• Hon. Arthur Frederick Pelham Bligh (25 April 1865 – 29 December 1924)
• Lady Mary Rose Florence Bligh (21 April 1868 – 5 July 1896)
• Lady Constance Violet Lucy Bligh (16 December 1869 – ?), married William Shakespear Childe-Pemberton on 28 June 1894 and had issue

Darnley died on 14 December 1896 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward.[10]