Henry W. Blair
Encyclopedia
Henry William Blair was a United States Representative and Senator
from New Hampshire
. Born in Campton
, he attended the common schools and private academies, studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1859 and commenced practice in Plymouth
. He was appointed prosecuting attorney for Grafton County
in 1860, and during the Civil War
he served in the Union Army
as lieutenant colonel
of the Fifteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry.
Blair was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
in 1866 and a member of the New Hampshire Senate
in 1867-1868. He was elected as a Republican to the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1875-March 4, 1879). In 1876, he offered the first prohibition
amendment to be offered in congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1878 but was elected to the U.S. Senate on June 17, 1879, for the vacancy in the term ending March 4, 1885, and served from June 20, 1879, to March 4, 1885. The State legislature not being in session, he was appointed on March 5, 1885, and elected on June 17, 1885, to fill the vacancy in the term beginning March 4, 1885, and served from March 10, 1885, to March 4, 1891. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1891. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor (Forty-seventh through Fifty-first Congresses).
He declined an appointment as judge of the United States District Court
for the district of New Hampshire tendered by President Benjamin Harrison
in 1891, and was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China
on March 6, 1891. He was objected to by the Chinese Government as being persona non grata
, and subsequently tendered his resignation which was accepted October 6, 1891. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (March 4, 1893-March 4, 1895) and was not a candidate for reelection in 1894. He engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D.C.
, until his death in 1920; interment was in Campton Cemetery.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. Born in Campton
Campton, New Hampshire
Campton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,333 at the 2010 census. Campton, which includes the villages of Blair, Campton Hollow, Lower Campton and West Campton, is home to Blair State Forest and Livermore Falls State Forest...
, he attended the common schools and private academies, studied law, was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1859 and commenced practice in Plymouth
Plymouth, New Hampshire
Plymouth is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States, in the White Mountains Region. Plymouth is located at the convergence of the Pemigewasset and Baker rivers. The population was 6,990 at the 2010 census...
. He was appointed prosecuting attorney for Grafton County
Grafton County, New Hampshire
Grafton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2010 census, the population was 89,118. Its county seat is North Haverhill, which is a village within the town of Haverhill. Until 1972, the county courthouse and other offices were located in downtown Woodsville, a...
in 1860, and during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
as lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the Fifteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry.
Blair was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
New Hampshire House of Representatives
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire General Court. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 103 districts across the state, created from divisions of the state's counties. On average, each legislator represents about 3,300...
in 1866 and a member of the New Hampshire Senate
New Hampshire Senate
The New Hampshire Senate has been meeting since 1784. It is the upper house of the New Hampshire General Court. It consists of 24 members representing Senate districts based on population...
in 1867-1868. He was elected as a Republican to the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1875-March 4, 1879). In 1876, he offered the first prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
amendment to be offered in congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1878 but was elected to the U.S. Senate on June 17, 1879, for the vacancy in the term ending March 4, 1885, and served from June 20, 1879, to March 4, 1885. The State legislature not being in session, he was appointed on March 5, 1885, and elected on June 17, 1885, to fill the vacancy in the term beginning March 4, 1885, and served from March 10, 1885, to March 4, 1891. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1891. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor (Forty-seventh through Fifty-first Congresses).
He declined an appointment as judge of the United States District Court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
for the district of New Hampshire tendered by President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
in 1891, and was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
on March 6, 1891. He was objected to by the Chinese Government as being persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
, and subsequently tendered his resignation which was accepted October 6, 1891. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (March 4, 1893-March 4, 1895) and was not a candidate for reelection in 1894. He engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, until his death in 1920; interment was in Campton Cemetery.