Born at Hale Hall, Lancashire, he was the son of John Blackburne, lord of the manor of Hale and member of parliament for Lancashire, and his wife Anne née Robard of Shepton Mallet, Somerset. He was descended from two old Lancashire families, the Irelands and the Blackburnes.
He was elected to the House of Commons in 1807, sitting as Member of Parliament for Newton until 1818. He subsequently became involved in the politics of the town of Warrington, helping to establish the Warrington Operative Conservative Association. Such associations were established in the north west of England in order to enlist the support of working class men against the emerging Radical and Chartist movements.
He sat as the town"s Member of Parliament until he retired in 1847.
He was a strong defender of the established church, and was opposed to the endowment of Roman Catholic priests and the appropriation of church property for secular purposes. He also supported the improvement of working conditions, in particular the Ten Hours Acting of 1847.
Conservative Party, Tories.
4th United Kingdom Parliament. 5th United Kingdom Parliament. 12th United Kingdom Parliament.
13th United Kingdom Parliament.
14th United Kingdom Parliament]
Their son, also named John Ireland Blackburne, was also a member of parliament from 1875 – 1885.
