James Bartholomew Blackwell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1763 Barrack Street, Ennis, County Clare Kingdom of Ireland |
| Died | 1820 (aged 56–57) Paris, France |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United Irishmen Kingdom of France First French Republic First French Empire |
| Years of service | 1784–1806 |
| Rank | Chef de brigade |
| Unit | Irish Legion |
| Battles / wars | |
| Relations | Uncle: Dr Bartholomew Murray |
| Other work | Governor |
James Bartholomew Blackwell (1763–1820) was an Irish officer in the service of France who received commissions from Louis XVI, the First French Republic and later Emperor Napoleon. A friend of Georges Danton, Camille Desmoulins, he had taken part in the storming of the Bastille in July 1789. Following service in defence of the Republic, at the behest of United Irish emissaries, he twice sailed for Ireland: in advance of the Rebellion of 1798 with General Hoche in December 1796, and with Napper Tandy after its defeat in September 1798. Following this second aborted expedition, he was interned in Hamburg and extradited to Ireland. The Peace of Amiens secured his release at the end of 1802. He returned to French service rising to the rank of Chef de bataillon.