William Blamire

William Blamire (13 April 1790 – 12 January 1862)^[1] was a British landowner, civil servant, and Whig politician.

William Blamire
Born	13 April 1790
Died	12 January 1862
Nationality	English
Education	Homeschooled Westminster School
Alma mater	Christ Church, Oxford
Occupation(s)	Landowner; Civil Servant; Politician.
Known for	High Sheriff of Cumberland Member of Parliament; for Cumberland, and East Cumberland Chief Tithe Commissioner
Relatives	Susanna Blamire (Aunt) John Christian Curwen (Uncle)

Background and education

Blamire was born at The Oaks, Dalston, Carlisle, England, to a family that originated in Cumberland. He was the eldest son of the naval surgeon William Blamire,^[2] and Jane, the third daughter of John Christian and sister of the politician John Christian Curwen.^[2] The Cumberland poet Susanna Blamire was his aunt.^[3] William was baptised in Dalston by the philosopher William Paley, the vicar there.^[2] He was privately tutored at Carlisle, and subsequently, from 1805 to 1808, educated at Westminster School, and, from 1808 to 1811,^[4] at Christ Church, Oxford, from which he graduated in 1811.^[5]

Career

Blamire was a Cumberland farmer who served as High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1828.^[6] He entered the British House of Commons in 1831 as MP for Cumberland,^[6] as which he served until the constituency was abolished the following year, after which he stood successfully for the new constituency that replaced it, East Cumberland.^[6] Blamire resigned as Member of Parliament in 1836, when, after the passing of the Tithe Commutation Act 1836 he was appointed the first Chief Tithe Commissioner.^[7] The Commission reported in 1851 and triggered various new acts and reforms.^[8] Blamire retired in 1860.^[7]

Family

In 1834, Blamire married his cousin Dorothy.^[9] She was the youngest daughter of John Taubman and the widow of Mark Wilks, who had governed Saint Helena during the time of Napoleon's exile there.^[9] Blamire's wife died in 1857:^[10] he survived her, for five years, until 1862.^[11] Several months after his death, a prize in his name was endowed for achievements in agriculture.^[12]