John Blount (died 1531)

John Blount (died 1531) was an English courtier and landowner during the reign of King Henry VIII. He is primarily known as the father of Bessie Blount, a mistress of Henry VIII and the mother of his illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset.

Very little is known of John Blount's early life. He was a member of a minor gentry family. He held lands in Kinlet, Shropshire and was described as a knight.

His daughter, Elizabeth "Bessie" Blount, was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon. Her beauty and charm attracted the attention of Henry VIII, and she became his mistress around 1518 or 1519. In June 1519, she gave birth to Henry FitzRoy, the only acknowledged illegitimate son of Henry VIII. This event raised Bessie's profile and arguably benefited her family.

After her relationship with Henry VIII ended, Bessie Blount married Gilbert Tailboys (later Tailboys, 1st Baron Tailboys of Kyme) in 1522. John Blount would have benefited from this marriage, which elevated his family's status further.

John Blount died in 1531. His legacy is primarily tied to his daughter's relationship with the king and the birth of Henry FitzRoy, who, despite his illegitimacy, was showered with titles and honors by his father.