Sir James Hunter Blair, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir James Hunter Blair, 1st Baronet (February 1741 – 1 July 1787) was a Scottish banker and politician.
Born John Hunter, the son of an Ayr merchant, he became a banker in the banking company of Sir William Forbes
, and acquired the estate of Robertland. On marrying Jean Blair, the daughter and heiress of John Blair of Dunskey in Wigtownshire
in 1770, the family name became Hunter Blair when she inherited her father's estate in 1777. The two had 14 children.
Hunter Blair was Member of Parliament
for Edinburgh
from 1780 to 1784 and Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1784. As Lord Provost, he carried through various reforms, including the beginning of work on rebuilding the University and the construction of the bridge over the Cowgate
. The foundation stone of this bridge was laid by Lord Haddo, as Grand Master Mason of Scotland in 1785, after Parliament had passed an Act giving permission for the plans to be executed. Blair was knighted and created a baronet
the following year, in 1786.
Hunter Blair cordially received Robert Burns
when the poet first arrived in Edinburgh. On Hunter Blair's death, Burns drafted a somewhat stilted elegy, beginning: 'The lamp of day, with ill-presaging glare', which extols rather laboriously Blair's public virtues. Burns called it 'just mediocre' but Ferguson describes it, justifiably as 'the disastrous Elegy on the Death of Sir James Hunter Blair'.
Hunter Blair was an enthusiastic Freemason. Hunter Square and Blair Street in Edinburgh are both named after him.
Born John Hunter, the son of an Ayr merchant, he became a banker in the banking company of Sir William Forbes
William Forbes
Sir William Forbes, 6th Baronet was a Scottish banker, born in Edinburgh to Sir William Forbes, 5th Baronet, and Christian Forbes. On 20 September 1770 he married Elizabeth Hay , daughter of Sir James Hay of Haystoun, 4th Baronet of Smithfield and Dorriel Campbell...
, and acquired the estate of Robertland. On marrying Jean Blair, the daughter and heiress of John Blair of Dunskey in Wigtownshire
Wigtownshire
Wigtownshire or the County of Wigtown is a registration county in the Southern Uplands of south west Scotland. Until 1975, the county was one of the administrative counties used for local government purposes, and is now administered as part of the council area of Dumfries and Galloway...
in 1770, the family name became Hunter Blair when she inherited her father's estate in 1777. The two had 14 children.
Hunter Blair was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Edinburgh
Edinburgh (UK Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh was a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1885. Originally a single member constituency, representation was increased to two members in 1832...
from 1780 to 1784 and Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1784. As Lord Provost, he carried through various reforms, including the beginning of work on rebuilding the University and the construction of the bridge over the Cowgate
Cowgate
The Cowgate is a street in Edinburgh, Scotland, located about 5 minutes' walk from Edinburgh Castle, within the city's World Heritage Site. The street's name is derived from the fact that cows were herded down it for Edinburgh's market days in previous centuries .The street is part of the lower...
. The foundation stone of this bridge was laid by Lord Haddo, as Grand Master Mason of Scotland in 1785, after Parliament had passed an Act giving permission for the plans to be executed. Blair was knighted and created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
the following year, in 1786.
Hunter Blair cordially received Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
when the poet first arrived in Edinburgh. On Hunter Blair's death, Burns drafted a somewhat stilted elegy, beginning: 'The lamp of day, with ill-presaging glare', which extols rather laboriously Blair's public virtues. Burns called it 'just mediocre' but Ferguson describes it, justifiably as 'the disastrous Elegy on the Death of Sir James Hunter Blair'.
Hunter Blair was an enthusiastic Freemason. Hunter Square and Blair Street in Edinburgh are both named after him.