In 1971, Blackwood married Annette Kay Greenhill, a daughter of Harold Greenhill. They have two children, Freya Jodie (born 1975) and Francis Senden Blackwood (born 1979), heir apparent to the peerage.[1]
Blackwood went into private practice as an architect in Orange, New South Wales, and by 1984 was listed as ARAIA.[2] In 1991, he succeeded his father to become the 11th Baron Dufferin and Claneboye, of Ballyleidy and Killyleagh in the County of Down, and also as 12th Baronet of Ballyleidy;[1] however, he did not use either title professionally.[2]
In 2003, Lord Dufferin was still living in Orange, New South Wales.[1]
Arms
The arms of the head of the family are blazonedAzure a Fess Or in chief a Crescent Argent between two Mullets of the second and in base a Mascle of the third; for supporters Dexter a Lion Gules gorged with a Tressure flory counterflory Or; Sinister an Heraldic Tiger Ermine gorged with a like Tressure Gules. The crest is On a Cap of Maintenance Gules turned up Ermine a Crescent Argent out of the Coronet of a Baron. The motto
is “Per Vias Rectas”, meaning “By straight ways”.[3]