1. Life and foundation of The Liverpool Blue Coat Hospital School

2. References

Bryan Blundell (1675 – 1756) was a philanthropist and captain of 'The Mulberry' ship which transported a large number of indentured workers to Virginia, and was also the first ship to dock in the New Dock in Liverpool.^[1] Blundell is however most noted for the foundation of The Liverpool Blue Coat Hospital School in 1708, which was established by Blundell and his close friend, the Reverend Robert Stythe, the rector of Liverpool, to provide an education for orphans in Liverpool.

Blundell was a skilled and formidably practical mariner. He first went to sea at the age of twelve and kept a detailed journal, typical of the time, which paints a vivid picture of the tumultuous political times and their effects on transatlantic trade. This document also contains his amateur colour drawings of ships of the period and detailed drafts of their rigging plans which enabled him to have vessels constructed in Virginia for a far lower cost than in England^[2]

Blundell also served twice as the Mayor of Liverpool in between 1721 and 1722 and 1728 and 1729, a position also held by his son Henry Blundell and his grandson Henry Blundell-Hollinshead. Inthis role, his piety often put him at odds with the population of a newly booming port town.

Blundell is often criticised for a heavy involvement in the transportation of enslaved Africans, and whilst he is certainly not wholly innocent in this regard, his role has been greatly exaggerated. He was the sole owner of the vessel Tarleton, which landed 236 of its original 273 slaves in Barbados, having embarked them on the Gold Coast. It can be presumed that 37 did not survive the voyage. Confusion may arise from the fact that his sons and descendants did continue an active commercial interest in the Liverpool trade through its hey day of the later 18th Century.^[3]

Life and foundation of The Liverpool Blue Coat Hospital School

Blundell and Stythe were both country members of the SPCK and in line with this organisations mission in England founded the Blue Coat Hospital School in 1708 to address the need for an educational establishment to teach the orphans of Liverpool to 'write and cast accounts'. Fifty boys were admitted to the school in the first year, with a school building, now the Bluecoat Chambers being built in 1715 and dedicated in 1717 to deal with the growing number of students and to provide boarding facilities, a building which Blundell gave £500 towards.^[4] Upon the death of Stythe in 1714, Blundell was appointed as the treasurer of the school, an appointment that he held for forty two years until his death. Upon gaining this position, Blundell resigned himself from the sea, to concentrate on his growing establishment. Blundell expressed a desire in his accounts to 'see as many charity schools as there are churches' as well as to see 100 boys and girls in the Blue Coat before his death, a desire which was indeed accomplished.

Blundell died on 27 January 1756 at the age of 81 and was interred at St Nicholas Church. His sons succeeded him as treasurers of the Blue Coat Hospital, which still thrives as a grammar school today. Blundell is remembered every year in the Liverpool Blue Coat School's Founders' Day Service. His memorial stone, which was originally housed in St Nicholas Church, is now in the chapel of the Liverpool Blue Coat School after it was moved from its original place after the church was damaged during the blitz.

References

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