BLEWITT, JONATHAN (_son of Jonas Blewitt of London, organist who d. 1805_). _b._ about 1781; organist in London, at Haverhill and at Brecon; organist of St. Andrew’s Dublin; composer and director of music at T. R. Dublin; grand organist to Freemasons of Ireland; wrote pantomime music for most of the London theatres 1826–52; director of music at Sadler’s Wells Theatre 1828–29, at Vauxhall gardens 1838 and at Tivoli gardens Margate; wrote a few light operas and upwards of 2000 pieces of vocal music, most of them comic songs, the best known are _Barney Brallaghan’s Courtship_ and _The merry little fat grey man_ 1845, which he used to sing inimitably; composed the tune of _The Perfect Cure_ 1844 which was associated with a now forgotten song called _The monkey and the nuts_, 20 years afterwards it was utilised by James Hurst Stead who became known as The Perfect Cure, and cleared more than £2000 by linking the tune with other words. _d._ London 4 Sep. 1853 in 73 year. BLEWITT, OCTAVIAN (_son of John Edwards Blewitt of London, merchant 1784–1860_). _b._ St. Helen’s place, Bishopsgate, London 3 Oct. 1810; ed. at Plymouth gr. sch.; travelled in Italy, Egypt, Greece, Turkey and other countries 1837–39; secretary of Royal literary fund in London 13 March 1839 to death; elected a member of the Athenæum club 1848 by a majority of 112 votes to 2; F.G.S. 1835; a knight of order of Leopold of Belgium 1872; edited the newspaper portion of the _Gardener’s Chronicle_ 1840–69; author of _A panorama of Torquay_ 1830; _A sketch of the district comprised between the Dart and the Teign_ 1832; _Treatise on the happiness arising from the exercise of the Christian faith_ 1832; _Handbook for travellers in Central Italy_ 1843 (_anon._) _2 ed._ (_with the author’s name_) 1850; _Handbook for travellers in Southern Italy_ 1853. _d._ 133 Elgin crescent, London 4 Nov. 1884. _Biograph v_, 170–85 (1881). BLEWITT, REGINALD JAMES (_2 son of Edward Blewitt of Llantarnam abbey, Monmouthshire who d. 8 March 1832 in 70 year_). _b._ 26 May 1799; ed. at Rugby; solicitor at 8 New square Lincoln’s Inn London 1821–27; M.P. for borough of Monmouth 24 July 1837 to March 1852; established the _Monmouthshire Merlin_ a liberal paper 1829, edited it 1829–32; manager of Monmouthshire bank which failed for a very large sum. _d._ The Priory, Putney 11 Sep. 1878. _Law Times lxv_, 405 (1878).