Edward Blaquiere, British officer, founding member of the Philhellenic Committee of London

 

 

Edward Blaquiere (1779-1832), was a British officer and pioneer Philhellene, a founding member of the Philhellenic Committee of London.

He was born in Dublin, Ireland, to a noble family of French descent who had taken refuge in Great Britain in 1685 due to the revocation of the Nantes Judgment^[1]. His father was the retired lieutenant colonel James Blaquiere (1726 – 1803), former officer of the 13th Dragon Regiment^[2].

Edward Blaquiere followed his father’s footsteps, and in January 1794 enlisted in the British Royal Navy^[3]. On April 23, 1794, he took part in the victorious for the British Battle of Guernsey^[4]. On June 23, 1795, he took part in the naval battle of Croix^[5].

On October 7, 1795, he served in the frigate “Fortitude”, and fought in the naval battle of the Cape of St. Vincent in Portugal^[6]. This naval battle was devastating for the British Royal Navy and Blaquiere escaped capture by chance.

On August 1, 1798, he took part in the victorious British naval battle of Aboukir in Egypt^[7].During this period he served under the command of Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758 – 1805), as an officer on the liner “Vanguard”, which was the flagship of the British Mediterranean Fleet^[8].

From September 1798 to September 1800, Blaquiere continued his service on the liner Vanguard. He even distinguished himself in the siege of Malta^[9]. His bravery, as well as his dedication to duty, led to his promotion to second lieutenant on July 20, 1801^[10]. A few days before, on July 12, 1801, he had taken part in the second naval battle of Algeciras^[11], under his capacity of officer of “Caesar”, under the orders of Admiral James Saumarez (1757-1836)^[12].

On October 21, 1805, he fought in the naval battle of Trafalgar^[13], as an officer of the “Temeraire’’^[14]. For his bravery, he was promoted to lieutenant^[15]. At the end of the same year he took part in the defense of Sicily^[16].

From 1810 to 1811, he served as a captain in the British Mediterranean Fleet. This position offered him the opportunity to get in touch with many residents of the wider area and to better observe the treatment of the enslaved population of the Ottoman Empire. During his tenure in the Mediterranean, he was seconded to Tripoli, Libya, and Tunis, Tunisia^[17]. During this period of service in the British Navy, Blaquiere began to develop his first Philhellenic sentiments^[18].

In mid-1812 he was stationed in the Naval Command of Valletta, Malta^[19]. He served there until 1816^[20]. His skills as a commander, as well as his previous action, led to his promotion to lieutenant in 1816^[21].

At the same time he came in contact with the philosopher and jurist Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)^[22], of whom he was an admirer since 1802. Blaquiere had admired the work “Traités de législation, civile et pénale”, which was extremely progressive for his era, as it promoted the need to rearrange the legal system. This contact proved to be particularly beneficial for Blaquiere, because these ideals forged his Philhellenism^[23]. At the same time this contact was the cause for Blaquiere to meet his later close friend and collaborator in the Philhellenic Committee of London, politician, economist, diplomat, writer and translator, John Bowring. Bowring was also a student of Bentham^[24] (and even his most preferred).

Blaquiere resigned from the British Royal Navy in 1820 with the rank of captain, to pursue unhindered his personal interests^[25] and later the promotion of Philhellenism.

After resigning from the British Royal, Blaquiere was funded by Bentham to visit Spain in June 1820, with the aim of strengthening the constitutional movement^[26]. There he met with the military leader of the constitutionalists, General Rafael del Riego y Flórez, and became close friends with the political leaders Agustín Argüelles and José Joaquín de Mora, founder of the newspaper “El Constitucional“^[27]. He also contributed greatly to the drafting of speeches of Antonio Puigblanch at the Spanish National Assembly^[28].

Along with his contacts and activities, Blaquiere travels around Spain and keeps notes, not only on the political situation, but also on the manners, customs and intellectual movement^[29].

In October 1822, Blaquiere was forced to return to England, as the Spanish constitutional movement was condemned by the Congress of Verona. French forces were already crossing the border to join the army loyal to King Ferdinand in order to suppress the constitutional movement^[30].

Upon his return to England, Blaquiere contacted Bentham and Bowring again, this time working systematically to promote Philhellenism. The results of their actions soon led to the establishment of the Philhellenic Committee of London.

Indeed, on February 28, 1823, the Philhellenic Committee of London was founded^[31]. . Blaquiere, Lord Byron, Jeremy Bentham, Lieutenant Colonel Leicester Stanhope, 5th Earl of Harrington, and John Bowring were its founding members^[32].

In March 1823, Edward Blaquiere traveled to Greece for the first time as a representative of the Philhellenic Committee of London. On this trip he accompanied Andreas Louriotis, a representative of the first Greek Government, which needed foreign borrowing to continue the Independence Struggle^[33]. The first stop was Genoa, Italy. Louriotis had received a letter of recommendation from John Cam Hobhouse, a Philhellene, member of the Philhellenic Committee of London and personal friend of Lord Byron. Using this letter and the help of Blaquiere, they met Lord Byron^[34]. This meeting aimed to encourage Lord Byron to take active action in Greece.

When he arrived in Greece, Blaquiere studied the situation and tried to diagnose the main weaknesses and priorities of the Greek revolutionaries. One of the first things he noticed was the need to establish a Regular Regular Army, as the first Regular Army was destroyed at the Battle of Peta on July 4, 1822^[35]. Blaquiere informed the Philhellenic Committee of London of this need^[36] in a series of letters. In fact, these letters are inspired by the same spirit as that of Lord Byron, who believed that the battlefields are the first school of freedom, and that freedom is first conquered by military means. This school considered that the sword precedes the pen, unlike that of Stanhope, who (although he was also a military man), considered (and even emphatically) that the most powerful weapon is the “pen” (i.e. the promotion of education and the press)^[37]. This, however, in no way negates the fact that all these wonderful people and conscious Philhellenes, tried to help Greece, with Lord Byron offering his own life in Messolonghi on April 7, 1824^[38].

In May 1823 Blaquiere returned to London and submitted to the Philhellenic Committee his report on the situation in Greece^[39]. From August to November 1823 he toured Great Britain and came in contact with many important people, in order to raise public awareness about the struggle of the Greeks and to find new funds to support the Greek Revolution^[40]. At the same time, Blaquiere systematically corresponds with Lord Byron and Stanhope^[41].

After this tour and correspondence, Blaquiere arrives in early December 1823 in British-ruled Kefalonia^[42]. There he meets Lord Byron and Stanhope, and joins their staff. On December 24, 1823 he arrived in Messolonghi^[43].

Edward Blaquiere collaborated with Lord Byron and Stanhope until Byron’s death on April 7, 1824. During this time he visited with Stanhope the leaders of the warring factions in Central Greece (during the civil strife), and contributed to their reconciliation^[44].

What characterized Blaquiere as a personality, was his cultural cultivation, his experience as a commander and especially his vision for a permanent unity of the Greeks. Moreover, the element that differentiated him from Stanhope and other more pragmatic British Philhellenes, was that his Philhellenism was romantic and that he supported the need for help of the Greeks unconditionally. Stanhope and his colleagues, on the other hand, believed that aid should be combined with a concrete plan and a strategy.

Blaquiere was a real Philhellene, who loved Greece to the end. He constantly wrote and sent articles and many letters to important people abroad. In all cases, he called on his British compatriots to fight for the Greek cause, either by coming to Greece or by strengthening the liberation struggle financially.

This action made him especially beloved among the Greeks, who saw that they had an extremely important and stable ally on the international scene.

The death of Lord Byron on April 7, 1824, as well as Stanhope’s clash with Kountouriotis and Mavrokordatos, forced Blaquiere to leave Greece in May 1824 with Stanhope^[45]. In fact, they both returned with the same ship that carried the body of Lord Byron.

However, Blaquiere’s interest in Greece remained alive and strong. He continues to maintain dense correspondence with important Greeks, such as Costas Botsaris^[46]. In the period 1825 – 1828, he wrote and published three books: “Narrative of a Second Visit to Greece”, “Greece and her Claims” and “Letters from Greece”, through which he informs and sensitizes the British public opinion about the events in Greece.

 

 

After the end of the Greek Revolution, Blaquiere continued his work in favor of movements for independence and civil rights in Europe and Latin America. In early 1832 he undertook a mission in the Azores, in an attempt to contribute to the creation of a constitutional monarchy in Portugal, under Peter I of Portugal, who was also the former emperor of Brazil and had abdicated the throne of Brazil in his favor of his son^[47]. Unfortunately, the ship on which he had boarded sank and this active freedom fighter lost his life.

Edward Blaquiere was (along with Bowring), the main guiding force of the Philhellenic Committee of London, and he greatly benefited with his work the struggle for the liberation of the Greeks. SHP and Greece honor the memory of Edward Blaquiere, a heroic, modest and noble Philhellene, who fought in every way for the Greek causes and for unity among the Greeks.

 

References

^[1] Carlton, J.H. Hayes, “A political and social history of modern Europe’’, εκδ. MacMillan, Νέα Υόρκη, 1916, α’ τόμος.
^[2] Cannon, Richard, “Historical Record of the Thirteenth Regiment of Light Dragoons containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1715 and of its subsequent services to 1842 “, εκδ. John W. Parker, Λονδίνο, 1842.
^[3] Syrett, D., Di Nardo, R. L., “The commissioned sea officers of the Royal Navy, 1660–1815’’, εκδ. Occasional Publications of the Navy, Λονδίνο, 1994.
^[4] Parkinson, C. Northcote, “The Life of Edward Pellew, Viscount Exmouth”, εκδ. Methuen & Co., Λονδίνο, 1934.
^[5] Woodman, Richard, “The Sea Warriors’’, εκδ. Constable Publishers, Εδιμβούργο, 2001.
^[6] Winfield, Rif, “British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates’’, εκδ. Seaforth, Barnsley, 2008.
^[7] Bradford, Ernle, “Nelson: The Essential Hero “, εκδ. Wordsworth Military Library, Λονδίνο, 1997.
^[8] Colledge, J. J., Warlow, Ben, “Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy “, εκδ. Chatham Publishing, Λονδίνο, 2006.
^[9] Gardiner, Robert, “Nelson Against Napoleon“, εκδ. Caxton Editions, Λονδίνο, 2002.
^[10] Syrett, D., Di Nardo, R. L., “The commissioned sea officers of the Royal Navy, 1660–1815’’, εκδ. Occasional Publications of the Navy, Λονδίνο, 1994.
^[11] Harvey, Robert, “Cochrane: The Life and Exploits of a Fighting Captain’’, εκδ. Constable Publishers, Εδιμβούργο, 2000.
^[12] Ross, John, “Memoirs of Admiral Lord de Saumarez“, εκδ. Richard Bentley, Λονδίνο, 1838, β’ τόμος.
^[13] Corbett, Julian Stafford, “The campaign of Trafalgar“, εκδ. Longmans, Green, and company, Λονδίνο, 1919, β’ τόμος.
^[14] Adkins, Roy, “Trafalgar: The Biography of a Battle“, εκδ. Abacus, Λονδίνο, 2005.
^[15] Βλ. στο ίδιο.
^[16] Blaquière, Edward, “Letters from the Mediterranean; containing a civil and political account of Sicily, Tripoly, Tunis, and Malta: with biographical sketches, anecdotes and observations, illustrative of the present state of those countries, and their relative situation with respect to the British empire“, εκδ. Colburn, Λονδίνο, 1813, α’ τόμος.
^[17] Βλ. στο ίδιο.
^[18] Βλ. στο ίδιο.
^[19] Βλ. στο ίδιο.
^[20] Syrett, D., Di Nardo, R. L., “The commissioned sea officers of the Royal Navy, 1660–1815’’, εκδ. Occasional Publications of the Navy, Λονδίνο, 1994.
^[21] Βλ. στο ίδιο.
^[22] De Beer, Esmond Samuel, Seton, Walter Warren,”Byroniana: The Archives of the London Greek Committee“, εκδ. King’s College, Λονδίνο, 1926.
^[23] Rosen, Frederick, “Bentham, Byron, and Greece: constitutionalism, nationalism, and early liberal political thought“, εκδ. Clarendon Press, Λονδίνο, 1992.
^[24] Youings, Joyce Alice, “Sir John Bowring, 1792-1872: aspects of his life and career”, εκδ. Devonshire Association, Plymouth, 1993.
^[25] Rosen, Frederick, “London Greek Committee (act. 1823–1826)“, εκδ. Oxford University Press, Λονδίνο, 2007.
^[26] Ramos Oliver, Francisco, “La trayectoria militar de Rafael del Riego’’, εκδ. περ. Revista de historia militar, Μαδρίτη, 2012, τεύχος 112.
^[27] Blaquiere, Edward, “An Historical Review of the Spanish Revolution Including Some Account of Religion, Manners and Literature in Spain“, εκδ. εκδ. G. & W. B. Whittacker, Λονδίνο, 1822.
^[28] Jardi, Enric, “Antoni Puigblanch. Els precedents de la Renaixença’’, εκδ. Aedos, Βαρκελώνη, 1960.
^[29] Blaquiere, Edward, “An Historical Review of the Spanish Revolution Including Some Account of Religion, Manners and Literature in Spain“, εκδ. εκδ. G. & W. B. Whittacker, Λονδίνο, 1822.
^[30] Nichols Jr, Irby C., ’’The Congress of Verona, 1822: A Reappraisal’’, εκδ. περ. Southwestern Social Science Quarterly, Georgetown, 1966.
^[31] Dimaras, Alexis, “The other British Philhellenes’’, εκδ. Oxford University Press, Λονδίνο, αχρονολόγητο.
^[32] Youings, Joyce Alice, “Sir John Bowring, 1792-1872: aspects of his life and career”, εκδ. Devonshire Association, Plymouth, 1993.
^[33] Blaquière, Edward, “Report on the Present State of the Greek Confederation, and on Its Claims to the Support of the Christian World: Read to the Greek Committee on Saturday, September 13, 1823’’, εκδ. Φιλελληνικής Επιτροπής, Λονδίνο, 1823.
^[34] St Clair, William, “That Greece Might Still be Free: The Philhellenes in the War of Independence”, εκδ. Open Book Publishers, Λονδίνο, 2008.
^[35] Βλ. στο ίδιο.
^[36] Blaquière, Edward, “The Greek Revolution, Its Origin and Progress: Together with Some Remarks on the Religion, National Character, &c. in Greece“, εκδ. G. B. Whittacker, Λονδίνο, 1824.
^[37] Moore, Thomas, “Letters and Journals of Lord Byron with Notices of his Life’’, εκδ. H. L. Broenner, Φρανκφούρτη, 1830. Επίσης, βλ. Αθάνας, Γ., “Ιστορικά Μελετήματα’’, εκδ. Ίδρυμα Γ & Μ. Αθανασιάδη – Νόβα, Ναύπακτος, 1998, σελ. 194.
^[38] Moore, Thomas, “Letters and Journals of Lord Byron with Notices of his Life’’, εκδ. H. L. Broenner, Φρανκφούρτη, 1830.
^[39] Blaquière, Edward, “Report on the Present State of the Greek Confederation, and on Its Claims to the Support of the Christian World: Read to the Greek Committee on Saturday, September 13, 1823’’, εκδ. Φιλελληνικής Επιτροπής, Λονδίνο, 1823.
^[40] St Clair, William, “That Greece Might Still be Free: The Philhellenes in the War of Independence”, εκδ. Open Book Publishers, Λονδίνο, 2008, σελ. 155.
^[41] Blaquière, Edward, “Letters from Greece: With Remarks on the Treaty of Intervention’’, εκδ. J. Ilbery, Λονδίνο, 1828.
^[42] Blaquière, Edward, “Narrative of a Second Visit to Greece: Including Facts Connected with the Last Days of Lord Byron “, εκδ. G. B. Whittacker, Λονδίνο, 1825, α’ τόμος.
^[43] Stanhope, Leicester, 5ος κόμης του Harrington, “Greece, in 1823 and 1824: Being a Series of Letters, and Other Documents”, εκδ. Sherwood, Gilbert & Piper, Λονδίνο, 1825, σελ. 543.
^[44] St Clair, William, “That Greece Might Still be Free: The Philhellenes in the War of Independence”, εκδ. Open Book Publishers, Λονδίνο, 2008.
^[45] “Αρχεία της Ελληνικής Παλιγγενεσίας’’, εκδ. Βουλή των Ελλήνων, Αθήνα, 1977, 10ος τόμος, σελ. 299.
^[46] “Αρχείο στρατηγού Κώστα Μπότσαρη’’, Γενικά Αρχεία του Κράτους, Αθήνα, φάκελος 25.
^[47] Manchester, Alan K., “The Paradoxical Pedro, First Emperor of Brazil’’, εκδ. περ. “The Hispanic American Historical Review’’, Durham, 1932, σελ. 192.

 

Bibliography – Sources:

• “Αρχεία της Ελληνικής Παλιγγενεσίας’’, εκδ. Βουλή των Ελλήνων, Αθήνα, 1977, 10ος τόμος.
• “Αρχείο στρατηγού Κώστα Μπότσαρη’’, Γενικά Αρχεία του Κράτους, Αθήνα, φάκελος 25.
• Manchester, Alan K., “The Paradoxical Pedro, First Emperor of Brazil’’, εκδ. περ. “The Hispanic American Historical Review’’, Durham, 1932.
• St Clair, William, “That Greece Might Still be Free: The Philhellenes in the War of Independence”, εκδ. Open Book Publishers, Λονδίνο, 2008.
• Stanhope, Leicester, 5ος κόμης του Harrington, “Greece, in 1823 and 1824: Being a Series of Letters, and Other Documents”, εκδ. Sherwood, Gilbert & Piper, Λονδίνο, 1825.
• Blaquière, Edward, “Report on the Present State of the Greek Confederation, and on Its Claims to the Support of the Christian World: Read to the Greek Committee on Saturday, September 13, 1823’’, εκδ. Φιλελληνικής Επιτροπής, Λονδίνο, 1823.
• Blaquière, Edward, “Narrative of a Second Visit to Greece: Including Facts Connected with the Last Days of Lord Byron“, εκδ. G. B. Whittacker, Λονδίνο, 1825, α’ τόμος.
• Blaquière, Edward, “Letters from Greece: With Remarks on the Treaty of Intervention’’, εκδ. J. Ilbery, Λονδίνο, 1828.
• Blaquière, Edward, “The Greek Revolution, Its Origin and Progress: Together with Some Remarks on the Religion, National Character, &c. in Greece”, εκδ. G. B. Whittacker, Λονδίνο, 1824.
• Moore, Thomas, “Letters and Journals of Lord Byron with Notices of his Life’’, εκδ. H. L. Broenner, Φρανκφούρτη, 1830.
• Αθάνας, Γ., “Ιστορικά Μελετήματα’’, εκδ. Ίδρυμα Γ & Μ. Αθανασιάδη – Νόβα, Ναύπακτος, 1998.
• Youings, Joyce Alice, “Sir John Bowring, 1792-1872: aspects of his life and career” , εκδ. Devonshire Association, Plymouth, 1993.
• Dimaras, Alexis, “The other British Philhelenes’’, εκδ. Oxford University Press, Λονδίνο, αχρονολόγητο.
• Rosen, Frederick, “London Greek Committee (act. 1823–1826)“, εκδ. Oxford University Press, Λονδίνο, 2007.
• Rosen, Frederick, “Bentham, Byron, and Greece: constitutionalism, nationalism, and early liberal political thought“, εκδ. Clarendon Press, Λονδίνο, 1992.
• De Beer, Esmond Samuel, Seton, Walter Warren,”Byroniana: The Archives of the London Greek Committee“, εκδ. King’s College, Λονδίνο, 1926.
• Blaquière, Edward, “Letters from the Mediterranean; containing a civil and political account of Sicily, Tripoly, Tunis, and Malta: with biographical sketches, anecdotes and observations, illustrative of the present state of those countries, and their relative situation with respect to the British empire“, εκδ. Colburn, Λονδίνο, 1813, α’ τόμος.
• Syrett, D., Di Nardo, R. L., “The commissioned sea officers of the Royal Navy, 1660–1815’’, εκδ. Occasional Publications of the Navy, Λονδίνο, 1994.
• Carlton, J.H. Hayes, “A political and social history of modern Europe’’, εκδ. MacMillan, Νέα Υόρκη, 1916, α’ τόμος.
• Cannon, Richard, “Historical Record of the Thirteenth Regiment of Light Dragoons containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1715 and of its subsequent services to 1842“, εκδ. John W. Parker, Λονδίνο, 1842.
• Parkinson, C. Northcote, “The Life of Edward Pellew, Viscount Exmouth”, εκδ. Methuen & Co., Λονδίνο, 1934.
• Woodman, Richard, “The Sea Warriors’’, εκδ. Constable Publishers, Εδιμβούργο, 2001.
• Winfield, Rif, “British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates’’, εκδ. Seaforth, Barnsley, 2008.
• Bradford, Ernle, “Nelson: The Essential Hero“, εκδ. Wordsworth Military Library, Λονδίνο, 1997.
• Colledge, J. J., Warlow, Ben, “Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy“, εκδ. Chatham Publishing, Λονδίνο, 2006.
• Gardiner, Robert, “Nelson Against Napoleon“, εκδ. Caxton Editions, Λονδίνο, 2002.
• Harvey, Robert, “Cochrane: The Life and Exploits of a Fighting Captain’’, εκδ. Constable Publishers, Εδιμβούργο, 2000.
• Ross, John, “Memoirs of Admiral Lord de Saumarez“, εκδ. Richard Bentley, Λονδίνο, 1838, β’ τόμος.
• Corbett, Julian Stafford, “The campaign of Trafalgar“, εκδ. Longmans, Green, and company, Λονδίνο, 1919, β’ τόμος.
• Adkins, Roy, “Trafalgar: The Biography of a Battle“, εκδ. Abacus, Λονδίνο, 2005.
• Blaquiere, Edward, “An Historical Review of the Spanish Revolution Including Some Account of Religion, Manners and Literature in Spain“, εκδ. G. & W. B. Whittacker , Λονδίνο, 1822.
• Jardi, Enric, “Antoni Puigblanch. Els precedents de la Renaixença’’, εκδ. Aedos, Βαρκελώνη, 1960.
• Nichols Jr, Irby C., ’’The Congress of Verona, 1822: A Reappraisal’’, εκδ. περ. Southwestern Social Science Quarterly, Georgetown, 1966.