Biography of Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport 1597-1666

Around 1597 Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport was born illegitimately to [his father] Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 34] and [his mother] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 33]. Illegitimate at birth his parents subsequently married.

In 1603 [his father] Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 40] was created 1st Earl Devonshire.

In 1605 Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 45] and [his mother] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 41] were divorced.

In February 1605 [his half-brother] Robert Rich 2nd Earl Warwick [aged 17] and [his sister-in-law] Frances Hatton Countess Warwick [aged 15] were married. He the son of Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 45] and [his mother] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 42].

On 26th December 1605 [his father] Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 42] and [his mother] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 42] were married at Wansted House, Essex during a service conducted by Archbishop William Laud [aged 32] (future). The marriage was regarded as uncanonical and resulted in the disgrace of both parties, who were banished from King James I's court circles. She by marriage Countess Devonshire. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Walter Devereux 1st Earl Essex and [his grandmother] Lettice Knollys Countess Essex and Leicester [aged 62]. They were third cousins.

On 3rd April 1606 [his father] Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire [aged 43] died at Savoy Palace [Map]. Earl Devonshire, Baron Mountjoy extinct.

On 7th July 1607 [his mother] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire [aged 44] died.

In 1616 [his half-brother] Henry Rich 1st Earl Holland [aged 25] and [his sister-in-law] Isabel Cope Countess Holland were married. He the son of Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 56] and [his mother] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.

On 20th March 1619 Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick [aged 59] died. His son [his half-brother] Robert [aged 31] succeeded 2nd Earl Warwick, 4th Baron Rich of Leez. [his sister-in-law] Frances Hatton Countess Warwick [aged 29] by marriage Countess Warwick.

He was buried at St Lawrence's Church, Snarford [Map]. Unusual head and shoulder portrait sculpture of deceased full face, with a profile of his wife Frances Wray Countess Warwick behind, set in a circular medallion. To either side are pelleted Pilasters supporting an entablature with scrolled Cartouche of arms and flanked by heraldic supporters. The whole is painted and gilded and beneath is a panel containing an inscribed poem. Above his Arms implaled with hers. His are quartered 1&4 Rich Arms 2&3 Baldry Arms (his mother), hers quartered 1&4 Wray 2&3 Unknown. the monument is perhaps the work of Epiphanius Evesham. Sculpted by Epiphanius Evesham.

On 8th January 1621 Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 24] took part in a Masque before King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland [aged 20] staged by James Hay 1st Earl Carlisle [aged 41] at Essex House.

In 1624 [his half-brother] Henry Rich 1st Earl Holland [aged 33] was created 1st Earl Holland. [his sister-in-law] Isabel Cope Countess Holland by marriage Countess Holland.

Before 20th January 1626 [his half-brother] Robert Rich 2nd Earl Warwick [aged 38] and [his sister-in-law] Susan Rowe Countess Warwick [aged 44] were married. She by marriage Countess Warwick. He the son of Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick and [his mother] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.

On 7th February 1626 Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 29] and Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland [aged 26] were married. He the illegitmate son of Charles Blount 1st Earl Devonshire and Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire.

In July 1627 Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 30] was created 1st Earl Newport in the Isle of Wight. Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland [aged 27] by marriage Countess Newport in the Isle of Wight.

Around 1630 [his daughter] Isabella Blount was born to Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 33] and Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland [aged 30]. She married before February 1655 her first cousin twice removed Nicholas Knollys 3rd Earl Banbury, son of William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury and Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury.

Before 23rd April 1631 [his son] Charles Blount died.

Before 16th September 1632 [his daughter] Henrietta Maria Blount was born to Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 35] and Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland [aged 32]. She died aged one point nine four eight five five in 1634.

Before 10th January 1634 [his son] Charles Blount was born to Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 37] and Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland [aged 34].

Before 1st April 1634 [his daughter] Henrietta Maria Blount [aged 1] died.

On 31st August 1634 Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 37] was appointed Master of the Ordnance; a very lucrative position. From his sale of gunpowder to the Spanish he received £1000, the King £5000.

In 1637 [his daughter] Anne Blount was born to Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 40] and Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland [aged 37].

Around 1637 Anthony Van Dyck [aged 37]. Portrait of Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 40].

Around 1640 Anthony Van Dyck [aged 40]. Portrait of Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 43].

On 21st January 1640 Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 43] participated with King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland [aged 39] in the extravagant masque on the theme of Philogenes, royal Lover of the People.

After 1646 [his half-brother] Robert Rich 2nd Earl Warwick [aged 58] and [his sister-in-law] Eleanor Wortley Countess Sussex Warwick Manchester were married. She by marriage Countess Warwick. She the daughter of Richard Wortley and Elizabeth Boughton Countess Devonshire. He the son of Robert Rich 1st Earl Warwick and [his mother] Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire. They were fifth cousin once removed.

Before February 1655 [his daughter] Isabella Blount [aged 25] died.

Before February 1655 [his son-in-law] Nicholas Knollys 3rd Earl Banbury [aged 24] and Isabella Blount [aged 25] were married. She the daughter of Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 58] and Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland [aged 55]. He the son of William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury and Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 72]. They were first cousin twice removed.

On 19th April 1658 [his half-brother] Robert Rich 2nd Earl Warwick [aged 70] died. His son [his nephew] Robert [aged 46] succeeded 3rd Earl Warwick, 5th Baron Rich of Leez.

From 1664 to 1666 Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 67] lived at 16 17 Great Piazza Covent Garden.

In 1666 Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport [aged 69] died at Oxford, Oxfordshire [Map]. His son Mountjoy succeeded 2nd Earl Newport in the Isle of Wight.

John Evelyn's Diary. 21st February 1689. Innumerable were the crowds, who solicited for, and expected offices; most of the old ones were turned out. Two or three white staves were disposed of some days before, as Lord Steward, to the Earl of Devonshire [aged 49]; Treasurer of the household, to Lord Newport; Lord Chamberlain to the King, to my Lord of Dorset [aged 46]; but there were as yet none in offices of the civil government save the Marquis of Halifax [aged 55] as Privy Seal. A council of thirty was chosen, Lord Derby [aged 34] president, but neither Chancellor nor Judges were yet declared, the new Great Seal not yet finished.

[his son] Charles Blount was born to Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport and Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland.

[his son] Mountjoy Blount 2nd Earl Newport was born to Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport and Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland.

[his son] Henry Blount 4th Earl Newport was born to Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport and Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland.

[his son] Thomas Blount 3rd Earl Newport was born to Mountjoy Blount 1st Earl Newport and Anne Boteler Countess Newport and Portland.