When Was the Word Blighter First Used?

The verb in this sense is from 1712. Hence slang blighter (1896) "contemptible fellow," but often jocular. I differ with some dictionaries about this.

Where does the word blighter come from?

blighter (n.)

1769, "thing which blights," agent noun from blight (v.). British colloquial sense of "contemptible person" (often jocular) is recorded from 1896.

What does it mean to call someone a blighter?

1 : one that blights. 2 chiefly British. a : a disliked or contemptible person. b : fellow, guy.