James Blunt

Blunt in 2007, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: James Hillier Blount

Place of Birth: Andover, Hampshire, England, U.K.

Date of Birth: 22 February, 1974

Ethnicity: English, as well as small amounts of Welsh and Scottish

James Blunt is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. He is known for his songs “You’re Beautiful” and “Goodbye My Lover.” He was a reconnaissance officer in the Life Guards regiment of the British Army, and served in the 1999 Kosovo War, under NATO.

He was born in Andover, Hampshire, England, at an army hospital. He is the son of Jane, who had a ski chalet company in Méribel, France, and Charles Blount, a cavalry officer in the 13th/18th Royal Hussars, and a helicopter pilot and colonel in the Army Air Corps. He was raised mostly in St Mary Bourne, Hampshire, and also lived partly in Cley next the Sea, and Cyprus and Germany. James is married to Sofia Wellesley, with whom he has two children. Sofia is the granddaughter of Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington.

Two of his distant ancestors was born in Wales, John Hanbury, born 1700, in Llanvihangel-Ystern-Llewern, Monmouthshire, Wales, and Sampson Lloyd, born 1664, in Dolobran, Wales. One of his ancestors, David Barclay, was Scottish, born 1682, in Urie, Kincardineshire, Scotland. James is descended from John and Sampson two times each and from David four times.

James’ paternal grandfather was Hubert Blount (the son of Greville Hubert Robins Blount and Gladys Isabel Wilson). James’ grandfather Hubert was born in Ootacamund, India, to English parents. Greville was born in Aldershot, Hampshire, the of Charles Hubert Blount and Eleanor Maud Phillips. Gladys was born in Surrey, Mitcham, the daughter of Daniel Frederick Wilson and Sarah Maria Johnston. Sarah’s mother was slavery abolitionist Priscilla Buxton. Her brother was Liberal Party politician Andrew Johnston.

James’ paternal grandmother was Marion Emily Helen “Polly” Barclay (the daughter of Francis Hubert Barclay and Hannah Maud Buxton). Marion was born in Cromer, Norfolk, England. Francis was the son of Joseph Gurney Barclay and Margaret Exton. Hannah was the daughter of Edward North Buxton and Emily Digby.

James’ maternal grandfather’s surname was Amos.

James’ maternal grandmother’s surname was Wallace.

Sources: Genealogy of James Blunt (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com