Captain Charles Blane
(1837-1874)
31 May 1861

Volume 3, page 344, sitting number 4057.

[The sitter has signed the reverse of the mount 'Yrs. very truly / Charles G. Blane.']

Charles Gilbert Blane was the third son of Hugh Seymour Blane, 2nd Baronet, and grandson of Sir Gilbert Blane, the Scottish physician who instituted health reform in the Royal Navy. He was baptised at Great Hadham (now called Much Hadham) in Hertfordshire on 5 December 1837.

He served as an officer in the 23rd Regiment Welsh Fusiliers. According to Hart's Army List (1859), 'Captain Blane served at the siege of Sebastopol in 1855, including the attack on the Redan on the 18th June, and was wounded in the trenches on 30th June (Medal and Clasp). Served in the Indian campaign of 1857-58, including the siege and capture of Lucknow and operations across the Goomtee under Outram (Medal and Clasp).'

Charles Gilbert Blane, 'a Captain unattached in Her Majesty's Army a Bachelor,' died, aged 36, on 4 April 1874, leaving an estate valued at £35,000. 

According to the Naval & Military Gazette (11 April 1874): 'Captain Charles Blane, late of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusileers, was accidentally drowned on the 4th instant, at The Pastures, Littleover, near Derby. The deceased went out alone to fish in a spacious pond on his brother, Sir Seymour Blane's estate, not very far from the house, and some hours afterwards it was discovered that he was drowned. His body was found in the water near the boat-house, and the boat had gone across the pond. The deceased gentleman, who was in his 37th year, was the third and youngest son of the late Sir Hugh Seymour Blane, Bart. (who was for some time Lieut.-Colonel in the Grenadier Guards), by Eliza, daughter of John Armit, Esq., of Dublin, and was born on the 3rd Nov., 1837.' The obituary concludes with details of his military career. 

The following report appeared in the Kentish Gazette (14 April 1874): 'An inquest was held yesterday week at Pastures, Littleover, near Derby, upon the body of Captain Charles Gilbert Blane, 36, youngest son of the late Sir Seymour Blane, who was drowned there about noon on Saturday by the upsetting of a boat. Captain Rodney Blane, who was the only witness examined, thought that his brother had been disabled in some way as soon as the boat capsized. A verdict of "Accidentally drowned" was returned.'