Difference between revisions of "Henry W. Blair"
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In 1876, Blair introduced legislation that would spend government revenue generated from public land sales to aid public schools throughout the nation.<ref name=britannicabio/> 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.<ref name=harpweek/> | In 1876, Blair introduced legislation that would spend government revenue generated from public land sales to aid public schools throughout the nation.<ref name=britannicabio/> 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.<ref name=harpweek/> | ||
| − | Such legislation passed the U.S. Senate on several occasions, but were blocked by the Democrat-controlled U.S. House.<ref name=harpweek/> | + | Such legislation passed the U.S. Senate on several occasions, but were blocked by the Democrat-controlled U.S. House.<ref name=harpweek/> The bill's opponents argued against the necessity by claiming that general literacy rates rose in the South. |
===U.S. Senate=== | ===U.S. Senate=== | ||
Revision as of 21:40, 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 | 1862–1863 | ||
| 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.
Blair was severely wounded at the siege in Port Hudson, Louisiana in 1863,[4] and would spend the rest of the war duration at home in order to convalesce.[3]
Political career
After being elected to a term in the lower state legislature in 1866,[3] Blair proceeded to become a member of the state Senate, serving 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.[5] He was re-elected to a second term in 1877 over Kent in a rematch.[6]
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 | ||
Like many Republicans at the time which, Blair supported higher protective tariffs, the gold standard, and generous pensions for Union veterans of the Civil War.[4] Blair was also known for advocating and holding "advanced"[3] stances on labor interests, temperance, federal funding of education, and women's suffrage, which later became causes of the Progressive Movement.
Blair did not run for re-election in the 1878 midterms.
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.[4]
Such legislation passed the U.S. Senate on several occasions, but were blocked by the Democrat-controlled U.S. House.[4] The bill's opponents argued against the necessity by claiming that general literacy rates rose in the South.
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 3.5 Henry William Blair | American politician. Britannica. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Wilder, Bert (October 10, 1891). “Blair, the White Elephant of the Administration”. HarpWeek. 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.
- ↑ NH US Senate - Appointment Race - Jun 16, 1879. Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 26, 2021.