Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley
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Edward Bligh, 2nd Earl of Darnley (9 November 1715 – 22 July 1747) was an English peer.
He was educated at Westminster and at Geneva. He succeeded his mother to become Baron Clifton in 1722 and, in 1728, succeeded his father as Earl of Darnley.
He was a Grand Master of Freemasons (1737 to 1738), a Fellow of the Royal Society (1737 to 1738) and in 1742 was made a Lord of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales: a position that he held until his death. He was one of the Whigs who, under the auspices of William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath, opposed Robert Walpole's office. He never married, but seems to have been the lover of the popular Irish actress Margaret Woffington.
According to Westminster Abbey's Funeral Book and Burke's Peerage he died at the family seat Cobham Hall and was buried at Westminster Abbey on 1 August 1747, aged 31.
| Peerage of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Theodosia Bligh |
Baron Clifton 1722–1747 |
Succeeded by John Bligh |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by John Bligh |
Earl of Darnley 1728–1747 |
Succeeded by John Bligh |
| Freemasonry offices | ||
| Preceded by The Earl of Loudoun |
Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England 1737–1738 |
Succeeded by Marquess of Carnarvon |
