Thomas Cherburgh Bligh (c. 1761 – 17 September 1830) was an Anglo-Irish Whig politician who served in the Irish House of Commons and the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
[4] Lord Darnley promoted his candidature for County Meath in the summer of 1801 and he was returned as one of two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in the following year after an easy contest.
Bligh was recorded as voting with the minority for the 1803 inquiry into the Prince of Wales's finances,[5] and, acting with Lord Darnley, several times against Henry Addington on defense in 1804.
[3] On 27 April 1807 Bligh informed Viscount Castlereagh, who at once reported to the Viceroy, that:[3] "he has hitherto voted against in concurrence with Lord Darnley, but his lordship being less hostile than he was, has liberated him from his allegiance, and he has desired me to convey to you his disposition to give his support to your government, and the administration generally.
I find however that he looks to have his claims considered, when it can be done without embarrassment, and as he has a family and is exposed to expense in maintaining his interest in the county, looks at some future, but as early an opportunity as may be practicable, to office for himself, or some provision for one of his sons.
Afraid of the expense of a contest and convinced he would lose, the chief secretary urged Bligh to either stand "as a friend of government or to decline with a public declaration that he refused to be 'the tool of Lord Fingall'".
[3] Lord Darnley, however, remained in opposition and in early in 1810, he reported that Bligh "lately resumed his political connection with me, and I have every reason to believe that it will not again be interrupted.
By 1820, he was again harassing Darnley and was bound over for another four years, but, unable to pay the sureties required for his discharge, spent the rest of his life in King's Bench prison.