Robert O. Blood
Encyclopedia
Robert Oscar Blood was an American
physician and Republican
politician from Concord, New Hampshire
. He served in both houses of the New Hampshire
legislature and two terms as Governor.
Blood was born in Enfield, New Hampshire
, and studied at Dartmouth College
and then Dartmouth Medical School
, graduating in 1913 and establishing a long-standing practice in Concord
from 1915 (lasting until just a few years before his death). He served in the U.S. Medical Corps 1917-1919, leaving the service a lieutenant-colonel with decorations from both Britain and France.
Blood began his political career in 1935, serving in the state's House (1935-36) and Senate (1937-40, president 1939-40). He won a close contest in the Republican direct primary for Governor and won the election by just 800 votes. He was re-elected in 1942, but lost in 1944. His time in office was dominated by the war, but he championed his long-standing interest in veterans' affairs and was active in improving the financial condition of the state government. He lost the Congressional primary in 1946. From 1944 to 1960, Blood was the New Hampshire delegate to Republican National Convention
.
He married Pauline Shepard in 1916 and they had three children: Robert Oscar Blood, II, Horace Shepard Blood, and Emily Blood.
Blood died at Concord in 1975 and is buried at the Blossom Hill Cemetery there. His collection of fine porcelain was donated to the state after his death and was placed in Bridges House - the Governor's mansion.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician from Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
. He served in both houses of the 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...
legislature and two terms as Governor.
Blood was born in Enfield, New Hampshire
Enfield, New Hampshire
Enfield is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,582 at the 2010 census. The town includes the villages of Enfield, Enfield Center, Upper Shaker Village, Lower Shaker Village, Lockehaven, and Montcalm....
, and studied at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
and then Dartmouth Medical School
Dartmouth Medical School
Dartmouth Medical School is the medical school of Dartmouth College, located in Hanover, New Hampshire, in the United States. The fourth-oldest medical school in the United States, Dartmouth Medical School was founded in 1797 by New England physician Nathan Smith and grew steadily over the course...
, graduating in 1913 and establishing a long-standing practice in Concord
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
from 1915 (lasting until just a few years before his death). He served in the U.S. Medical Corps 1917-1919, leaving the service a lieutenant-colonel with decorations from both Britain and France.
Blood began his political career in 1935, serving in the state's House (1935-36) and Senate (1937-40, president 1939-40). He won a close contest in the Republican direct primary for Governor and won the election by just 800 votes. He was re-elected in 1942, but lost in 1944. His time in office was dominated by the war, but he championed his long-standing interest in veterans' affairs and was active in improving the financial condition of the state government. He lost the Congressional primary in 1946. From 1944 to 1960, Blood was the New Hampshire delegate to Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
.
He married Pauline Shepard in 1916 and they had three children: Robert Oscar Blood, II, Horace Shepard Blood, and Emily Blood.
Blood died at Concord in 1975 and is buried at the Blossom Hill Cemetery there. His collection of fine porcelain was donated to the state after his death and was placed in Bridges House - the Governor's mansion.