James Blyth, 1st Baron Blyth

Who was James Blyth, 1st Baron Blyth?

James Blyth, Baron Blyth, known as "Sir James Blyth, 1st Baronet" from 1895 to 1907, was a British businessman.

Blyth was the son of James Blyth and his wife Caroline, daughter of Henry Gilbey. He notably served as a Director of the wine mercantile firm of W. and A. Gilbey and was a recognised authority on wine culture and wine commerce. He was also deeply interested in agriculture and farming. Apart from his business career Blyth was a Justice of the Peace for Hertfordshire and Essex and served as Vice-President of the Royal Society of Arts. He was created a Baronet, of Chelmsford in the County of Essex, in 1895, and in 1907 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Blyth, of Blythwood and of Stansted Mountfichet in the County of Essex.

Lord Blyth married Eliza, daughter of William Mooney, in 1865. They had three sons and four daughters. Eliza died in 1894. Lord Blyth survived her by over 30 years and died in September 1925, aged 83. He was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son Herbert.