James Blunt Biography | JamesBluntBiography.com
International rock star James Blunt was born James Hillier Blount on
February 22, 1974 in a military hospital in Tidworth,
Wiltshire,
England.
The first child of Jane and Charles Blount, James was born into a family
with a deep military heritage dating as far back as the 10th
century. Despite learning the piano and violin at a very young
age, a career in music was in not in Jane and Charles Blount’s plans for
young James. They aspired that he follow in the footsteps of his
fellow ancestors and join the military.
James Blunt began his formal education at the
Elstree
School in Woolhampton, Berkshire, England
and from there Blunt went to the famed Harrow
School in Harrow, England.
It was during his teen years at Harrow that Blunt developed his passion for music.
He was introduced to the guitar by a fellow friend and by the time he
was 14 Blunt started to write his own songs. After graduating from
Harrow, Blunt went to Bristol University where he studied Aerospace
Manufacturing Engineering on a military funded scholarship. Blunt
graduated from Bristol University
in 1996 with a degree in Sociology.
Due to his military scholarship, Blunt was obligated to fulfill four
years of service in the military once he graduated from
Bristol
University. James
Blunt became a member of the Household Cavalry with stints in
Alberta,
Canada as well as
Verbier, Switzerland.
In 1999, Blunt was involved with NATO working as a peacekeeper in
Kosovo. While assigned in Kosovo, Blunt had brought along his
guitar which he strapped to the outside of his tank. On his off
time Blunt would perform to the locals as well as his fellow comrades.
It is said that Blunt would occasionally stroll along the villages
singing “Give Peace a Chance.”
Blunt spent his final days with the Household Cavalry in London, England
where he stood on guard during Queen Elizabeth’s final days. James
was also on duty for the Queen Mother’s burial. Blunt left the
military on October 1, 2002 after spending 6 years in the army.
