Blunt, John Elijah, 1796 or 1797-1856

Epithet: Vice-Consul at A drianople

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000217.0x0000df

Epithet: barrister of Lincoln's Inn

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000352.0x0002f7

Sir John Elijah Blunt, 1832-1916 was a distinguished British consul of the late nineteenth century, with numerous family ties to the consular service. He was the son of Charles Blunt, HM Consul at Smyrna, and of Caroline Vitalis, daughter of HM Consul at Brussa. After education privately and at Kensington Grammar School, Sir John first came to prominence as chief interpreter and aide-de-campe to Lord Lucan during the Crimean War, being present at the battles of Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman. Having held various consular appointments in Uskub, Adrianople, Belgrade and Bitholia, he was appointed HM Consul-General for Salonica, 1879-1899, and HM Consul (with the rank of Consul General) at Boston, 1899-1902. He was created Companion of the Bath in 1878 and knighted in 1902, the year of his retirement to Malta, after more than half a century of consular activity.

Reference: The University of Birmingham, Research Libraries Bulletin (Number 2, Autumn 1994).

From the guide to the Papers of Sir John Elijah Blunt, 1852-1901, (University of Birmingham Information Services, Special Collections Department)