Henry William Blair | |
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United States Senator from New Hampshire | |
In office June 18, 1879 – March 3, 1891 | |
Preceded by | Charles H. Bell |
Succeeded by | Jacob H. Gallinger |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire | |
In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879 | |
Preceded by | Hosea Washington Parker |
Succeeded by | Evarts Worcester Farr |
Constituency | 3rd district |
In office March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 | |
Preceded by | Luther F. McKinney |
Succeeded by | Cyrus A. Sulloway |
Constituency | 1st district |
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives | |
In office 1866 | |
Member of the New Hampshire Senate | |
In office 1867–1868 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Campton, New Hampshire | December 6, 1834
Died | March 14, 1920 Washington, D.C. | (aged 85)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Eliza Nelson Blair |
Children | Henry P. Blair |
Parent(s) | William Henry Blair Lois (Baker) Blair |
Occupation | Lawyer Politician |
Signature | |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Branch/service | Union Army |
Rank | lieutenant colonel |
Unit | Fifteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry |
Battles/wars | Civil War |
Henry William Blair (December 6, 1834 – March 14, 1920) was a United States representative and Senator from New Hampshire. 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][3] who as a bloc pushed for civil service reform at the expense of racial and social equality efforts.[4] In contrast to other Half-Breeds who exhibited coldness towards the plight of Southern blacks, Blair himself consistently fought to end racial disparities, and his efforts were considered decades ahead of his time.[5]