Difference between revisions of "Henry W. Blair"
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==Political career== | ==Political career== | ||
| + | After being elected to serve for a term in the lower state legislature in 1866,<ref name=britannicabio/> Blair was a member of the state Senate from 1867 to 1868. | ||
| + | |||
===U.S. House, 1875–79=== | ===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.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=713773 NH District 3 Race - Mar 09, 1875]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 26, 2021.</ref> He was re-elected to a second term in 1877 over Kent in a rematch.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=713774 NH District 3 Race - Mar 13, 1877]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved Novemebr 26, 2021.</ref> | 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.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=713773 NH District 3 Race - Mar 09, 1875]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 26, 2021.</ref> He was re-elected to a second term in 1877 over Kent in a rematch.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=713774 NH District 3 Race - Mar 13, 1877]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved Novemebr 26, 2021.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 21:17, November 26, 2021
| Henry William Blair | |
|---|---|
| Former U.S. Representative from New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District From: March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1895 | |
| Predecessor | Luther F. McKinney |
| Successor | Cyrus A. Sulloway |
| 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 |
| Former State Senator from New Hampshire From: 1867–1868 | |
| Predecessor | ??? |
| Successor | ??? |
| Former State Representative from New Hampshire From: 1866 | |
| Predecessor | ??? |
| Successor | ??? |
| Information | |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Eliza A. Nelson |
| Military Service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | Union Army |
| Service Years | 1862–??? |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | • Fifteenth Regiment • New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
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]
American Civil War
When the Civil War broke out, Blair tried to enlist in the Union military though was twice rejected due to being physically unfit.[3] Ultimately accepted in 1862, he joined the 15th New Hampshire Volunteers and rose among ranks from Captain to Lieutenant Colonel.
At one point, Blair was severely wounded, and would spend the rest of the war duration at home.[3]
Political career
After being elected to serve for a term in the lower state legislature in 1866,[3] Blair was a member of the state Senate from 1867 to 1868.
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 3.2 3.3 3.4 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.