Edward Francis Blewitt


Edward Francis Blewitt was an American civil engineer, businessman, and politician who served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 22nd district from 1907 to 1910. He is the maternal great-grandfather of Joe Biden, 47th Vice President of the United States.

Early life and education

Blewitt was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to Patrick and Catherine Blewitt, who were emigrants from Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland. Blewitt attended Lafayette College, serving as class president, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1879.

Career

Blewitt worked as an engineer in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, mining operations. He worked as the City Engineer of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and as chief engineer of the Guadalajara, Mexico sewer and water system from 1883 to 1893. He worked as state engineer of the State of Jalisco, Mexico from 1900 to 1901.
In 1883, Blewitt was elected to one term as a school controller. In 1906, Blewitt was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 22nd district from 1907 to 1910. Blewitt was one of the first Roman Catholics to serve in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
In 1903, he founded the Edward F. Gold Mining Company, a silver and gold mining operation in Montana.
Blewitt was the co-founder of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in Scranton in 1908 and was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Personal life

He married Mary Ellen Stanton in 1879. From this marriage, Blewitt is the maternal great-grandfather of Joe Biden, 47th Vice President of the United States. Mary Ellen Stanton died in 1887 and Blewitt was remarried to Mary Ann Blackwell in 1891.
He died on May 26, 1926, and was interred at St. Catherine's Cemetery in Moscow, Pennsylvania.

Legacy

During the 2020 United States presidential election, various photos circulated on Facebook that suggested Blewitt owned slaves and fought in the Confederate States Army. Both claims were later disproven.