Difference between revisions of "Henry W. Blair"
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'''Henry William Blair''' (December 6, 1834 – March 14, 1920) was a [[lawyer]] and Republican from [[New Hampshire]] who served as the state's U.S. representative and senator, previously being a member of the state legislator. During the [[American Civil War]], he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Union Army. | '''Henry William Blair''' (December 6, 1834 – March 14, 1920) was a [[lawyer]] and Republican from [[New Hampshire]] who served as the state's U.S. representative and senator, previously being a member of the state legislator. During the [[American Civil War]], he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Union Army. | ||
| − | A [[Radical Republican]] in his earlier political career,<ref name=blairnominated>June 13, 1879. [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1879/06/13/80757754.pdf POLITICS AND POLITICIANS; THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE FIGHT ENDED THE HON. HENRY W. BLAIR NOMINATED TO BE UNITED STATES SENATOR BY THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS MR. WADLEIGH BADLY BEATEN.] ''The New York Times''. Retrieved November 26, 2021.</ref> Blair later became associated with the moderate [[Half-Breeds]] who pushed for civil service reform at the expense of Southern blacks. However, he himself consistently fought to aid blacks, and his efforts were considered decades ahead of his time.<ref name=britannicabio>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-William-Blair Henry William Blair | American politician]. ''Britannica''. Retrieved November 26, 2021.</ref> | + | A [[Radical Republican]] in his earlier political career,<ref name=blairnominated>June 13, 1879. [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1879/06/13/80757754.pdf POLITICS AND POLITICIANS; THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE FIGHT ENDED THE HON. HENRY W. BLAIR NOMINATED TO BE UNITED STATES SENATOR BY THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS MR. WADLEIGH BADLY BEATEN.] ''The New York Times''. Retrieved November 26, 2021.</ref> Blair later became associated with the moderate [[Half-Breeds]]<ref>Welch, Robert E., Jr. (1971). [https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674436787 George Frisbie Hoar and the Half-Breed Republicans], pp. 91. ''Harvard University Press''. Retrieved November 26, 2021.</ref> who pushed for civil service reform at the expense of Southern blacks. However, he himself consistently fought to aid blacks, and his efforts were considered decades ahead of his time.<ref name=britannicabio>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-William-Blair Henry William Blair | American politician]. ''Britannica''. Retrieved November 26, 2021.</ref> |
==Political career== | ==Political career== | ||
Revision as of 21:06, November 26, 2021
| Henry William Blair | |
|---|---|
| Former U.S. Senator from New Hampshire From: June 18, 1879 – March 4, 1891 | |
| Predecessor | Charles H. Bell |
| Successor | Jacob H. Gallinger |
| Former U.S. Representative from New Hampshire's 3rd Congressional District From: March 4, 1875 – March 4, 1879 | |
| Predecessor | Hosea W. Parker |
| Successor | Evarts W. Farr |
| Information | |
| Party | Republican |
Henry William Blair (December 6, 1834 – March 14, 1920) was a lawyer and Republican from New Hampshire who served as the state's U.S. representative and senator, previously being a member of the state legislator. During the American Civil War, he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Union Army.
A Radical Republican in his earlier political career,[1] Blair later became associated with the moderate Half-Breeds[2] who pushed for civil service reform at the expense of Southern blacks. However, he himself consistently fought to aid blacks, and his efforts were considered decades ahead of his time.[3]
Political career
U.S. House, 1875–79
Blair narrowly won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1875, defeating Democrat opponent Henry O. Kent by less than one percentage point from the 3rd congressional district.[4] He was re-elected to a second term in 1877 over Kent in a rematch.[5]
According to The New York Times:[1]
| “ | His record in Congress, both as an advocate of radical Republican principles, and of all the genuine moral reforms, particularly temperance reform, is highly spoken of. He is also recommended as an able, honest, and a courageous man; a faithful soldier in the war of the rebellion, and a faithful member of the national House. | ” |
—The New York Times, June 12, 1879 | ||
Education bill
In 1876, Blair introduced legislation that would spend government revenue generated from public land sales to aid public schools throughout the nation.[3] Known as the "Blair Education Bill," it aimed to allocate $77 million in federal funds based proportionately on illiteracy rates, with the aim of bolstering Southern blacks.[6]
Such legislation passed the U.S. Senate on several occasions, but were blocked by the Democrat-controlled U.S. House.[6]
U.S. Senate
In 1879, Blair ran for U.S. Senate. Among his intraparty opponents, he led former Sen. Bainbridge Wadleigh on the first ballot, nearly began to trail ex-Governor Benjamin F. Prescott on the fourth ballot, though ultimately secured the party nomination.[1] Blair then won the appointment race to serve as U.S. senator.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 June 13, 1879. POLITICS AND POLITICIANS; THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE FIGHT ENDED THE HON. HENRY W. BLAIR NOMINATED TO BE UNITED STATES SENATOR BY THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS MR. WADLEIGH BADLY BEATEN. The New York Times. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ↑ Welch, Robert E., Jr. (1971). George Frisbie Hoar and the Half-Breed Republicans, pp. 91. Harvard University Press. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Henry William Blair | American politician. Britannica. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ↑ NH District 3 Race - Mar 09, 1875. Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ↑ NH District 3 Race - Mar 13, 1877. Our Campaigns. Retrieved Novemebr 26, 2021.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wilder, Bert (October 10, 1891). “Blair, the White Elephant of the Administration”. HarpWeek. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ↑ NH US Senate - Appointment Race - Jun 16, 1879. Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 26, 2021.