And the rest coming home with the urn. Bligh also played for Cambridge University and Kent in a first-class cricket career which lasted from 1877 to 1883. He was elected President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 1900/01 and of Kent County Cricket Club in 1892 and 1902. Public offices Bligh succeeded his elder brother Edward as Earl of Darnley in 1900. As the holder of an Irish peerage he was not automatically entitled to a seat in the House of Lords (his brother's English peerage, the barony of Clifton, had passed to Edward's daughter Elizabeth), but was elected as soon as was practicable, in March 1905, to sit in Parliament as an Irish Representative Peer. The year after his succession to the family titles, Lord Darnley was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for Kent. He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 4th Volunteer Battalion, The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) on 16 July 1902. Personal life He married Florence Rose Morphy, daughter of John Stephen Morphy, of Beechworth, Victoria, Australia on 9 February 1884. She had been a music teacher at Rupertswood, where her future husband had stayed during his tour of Australia. They had two sons and a daughter: Esmé Bligh, 9th Earl of Darnley (1886–1955) Hon. Noel Gervase Bligh (14 November 1888 – 1984), married Mary Jack Frost and had issue Lady Dorothy Violet Bligh (8 February 1893 – 16 January 1976) In 1884, he became a Christian through Dwight L. Moody's preaching, after C. T. Studd invited him to attend Moody's campaign meeting. He served as the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1900. Lord Darnley died at Shorne, Kent in April 1927, aged 68, being succeeded in the family titles by his eldest son, Esmé. His wife, 'Florence, Dowager Countess of Darnley', presented the urn to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) after her husband's death. She died in August 1944, having been honoured as one of the first Dames of the British Empire in 1919. Ivo Bligh is buried in the family vault at the collegiate church of St Mary Magdalene, Cobham, Kent. Art collection As owner of the art collection at Cobham Hall from 1900, he lent various pieces to London exhibitions, but in May 1925 he sold a number of pieces. See also History of Test cricket (to 1883) Cobham Hall Earl of Darnley References External links