Edward Charles Blount
Sir Edward Charles Blount | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Near Rugeley, Staffordshire, England |
| Died | 15 March 1905 (aged 95) |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, banker |
| Known for | Development of French railways; chairman of Chemin de fer de l'Ouest; president of Société Générale |
Sir Edward Charles Blount (16 March 1809 – 15 March 1905) was an English financier operating out of Paris who played a pivotal role in advancing the development of French railways.
Early life
Blount was born into a Catholic household near Rugeley, Staffordshire, as the second son of Edward Blount (1769–1843) and Frances Wright. His education included attendance at Rugeley Grammar School followed by studies at St Mary's College, Oscott. He initially gained experience at the Provincial Bank of Ireland in London before joining the British embassy in Paris in 1829 as an attaché. The following year, he was posted to Rome, where he encountered notable individuals such as the future Napoleon III. By 1831, he transitioned into banking in Paris, establishing Edward Blount, Père et Fils. Subsequently, he partnered with Charles Laffitte to create Charles Laffitte, Blount & Co., a prosperous financial institution located on Rue Laffitte.
Financing French railways
At a time when France’s railway system was scarcely developed, Blount concentrated on its expansion. After a state-controlled railway proposal was rejected in 1838, he suggested to Jules Armand Dufaure, then minister of public works, a jointly funded railway line connecting Paris and Rouen. This initiative resulted in the formation of the Chemin de fer de l'Ouest, with Blount appointed as chairman. Key financiers included James Rothschild and Lord Overstone, and the board comprised both French and English directors. The enterprise secured royal sanction in 1840; engineering by Joseph Locke and construction overseen by Thomas Brassey culminated in the line’s opening in 1843.
Blount improved operations by employing skilled English locomotive engineers and acquiring hands-on experience driving engines himself. He maintained the chairmanship for three decades. Together with Laffitte, he was instrumental in developing the Amiens to Boulogne route through Abbeville and Neufchâtel-Hardelot in 1845. His later involvement extended to managing rail lines linking Lyon with Avignon and Geneva during 1852–53. Additionally, he invested in various European railway enterprises and related infrastructure projects.
Third bank
Following his assistance in aiding Louis Philippe’s family during the French Revolution of 1848, Blount faced the collapse of his bank and retreated to St. Germains. With backing from Brassey and other affluent partners, he established a third banking firm in late 1852 named Edward Blount & Company at No. 7 Rue de la Paix. The company flourished, notably acting as banker to the Papal government. After the unification of Italy in 1859 and subsequent annexation of the Papal States, Blount oversaw the conversion and transfer of papal debt obligations to the newly formed Italian administration.
Following the 1870 revolution in Paris and creation of the French Third Republic, Blount concluded his bank’s operations, transferring its business to Paris’s Société Générale, where he assumed the presidency.
The siege of Paris
When Paris faced the Prussian threat, Blount sent his family to England but remained through the siege alongside his son Aston. Upon departure of British ambassador Richard Lyons, 1st Viscount Lyons for Tours, Blount took responsibility for British affairs and was appointed British consul on 24 January 1871. Together with Sir Richard Wallace and Alan Herbert, he organized relief efforts from Britain.
After Paris capitulated, Blount dined with Otto von Bismarck at Versailles before returning to London in March 1871. He openly expressed criticism toward Prime Minister W. E. Gladstone for Britain's failure to intervene.
Later life
On 13 March 1871, Blount received the distinction of Companion (CB) and was subsequently elevated to Knight Commander (KCB) on 2 June 1878. Additionally, he held the rank of commander within the Légion d'Honneur.
In 1894, during a period marked by increasing xenophobic sentiment, Blount stepped down from his role as chairman of Chemin de fer de l'Ouest, though he was appointed honorary president in recognition of his service. He continued to wield significant influence within Anglo-French commercial networks based in Paris, including his tenure as president of the British chamber of commerce. His business dealings were international in scope, with board memberships at General Credit and Finance Company (which later became Union Discount Company of London) and at London Joint Stock Bank.
A passionate supporter of horse racing, Blount was affiliated with the Comte de Lagrange’s stable and held membership in the French Jockey Club. Following Lagrange’s passing in 1883, Blount sustained a modest stable on his own account.
Blount retired from the presidency of Société Générale in June 1901, after which he was granted the title of honorary president. He then retired to his estate at Imberhorne in East Grinstead, Sussex. He passed away there on 15 March 1905 at the age of 96 and was interred at St. Francis cemetery in Crawley, Sussex. His contributions to local communities included the establishment of a Catholic school near Birmingham and a church in East Grinstead.
Works
Blount’s memoirs were recorded by his neighbour Stuart J. Reid and published in 1902. In addition to his literary efforts, he engaged in surrealist photomontage as an amateur artist, compiling an album containing hundreds of photographic montages that may provide valuable material for psychoanalytic study.
Family
On 18 November 1834, Blount married Gertrude Frances, daughter of William Charles Jerningham. She survived him until her death in 1907. Out of their five children, only their younger son, Henry Edmund Blount, outlived him.
External links
- Attribution