Reginald Blewitt
Reginald James Blewitt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 May 1799 Marylebone, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 11 September 1878 (aged 79) Roehampton, Surrey, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Collieries, canals and railways |
| Predecessor | Benjamin Hall |
| Successor | Crawshay Bailey |
| Political party | Whig |
Reginald James Blewitt (1799–1878) was a British MP. He built up the Monmouthshire Merlin newspaper and refurbished Llantarnam Abbey.
Biography
Blewitt was born in 1799 to Edward and Amelia Blewitt. His father was descended from the powerful Morgan family of Newport.[1] In 1827 Blewitt published a satirical poem that was published as a 106-page book about the characters of the Chancery Court.[2] Blewitt obtained ownership of Llantarnam Abbey which had historically been a Catholic home for centuries. Blewitt restored the abbey as his home in 1836.[3] In 1837, he was elected as an M.P. for the Monmouthshire Boroughs.
Newport Uprising
Blewitt played a minor role in the Newport Rising when three groups of Chartists descended onto Newport to release from custody a fellow chartist. Two of the groups arrived at the Hotel in Newport and they were turned back by armed soldiers who fired on the rioters. The third group from Pontypool led by William Jones was too late and it had been met on the road by Blewitt who cautioned the men against insurrection. Blewitt was a well known critic of Chartism via his Newport paper.[4] However the group continued and only scattered after they were told of the chartists shot dead and wounded in Newport. Meanwhile, Blewitt had travelled through Caerleon to the site of the riot where he took over the role of Mayor as he had been wounded.[5] Jones and two others were eventually transported for their part in the uprising.
Cwmbran iron works
The growth of the iron works at Cwmbran in the middle of the nineteenth century was due to Blewitt's ownership. In 1847 he was establishing a patent for a method of creating malleable iron.[6] This iron works continued as a major employer in the area until 1970.[7]
Politician, journalist and writer
References
- ↑ Burke, James and Bernard (1841). A genealogical and heraldic history of the extinct and dormant baronetcies. p. 642.
- ↑ Blewitt, Reginald (1827). Chancery Court. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-58477-648-2.
- ↑ "Llantanam Abbey". tycroesocentre.
- ↑ Williams, Chris and Sian (15 June 2011). The Gwent County History Vol 4. p270-273. ISBN 978-0-7083-2365-6.
- ↑ Drayson, Alfred W. The Chartist riots at Newport : November, 1839 p.41.
- ↑ Patents for inventions. Abridgments of specifications. Patents Office. 1858. p. 84.
- ↑ "GKN - Guest Keen & Nettlefold". cwmbran.info. Archived from the original on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
External links
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- 1799 births
- 1878 deaths
- UK MPs 1837–1841
- UK MPs 1841–1847
- UK MPs 1847–1852
- Whig (British political party) MPs for Welsh constituencies