John Blair (Tennessee politician)

American politician (1790–1863)

John Blair

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1835
Preceded by| John Rhea
Succeeded by| William B. Carter
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
1815-1817
Member of the Tennessee Senate
In office
1817-1821
Personal details
Born| (1790-09-13)September 13, 1790
Jonesborough, Southwest Territory
Died| July 9, 1863(1863-07-09) (aged 72)
Jonesborough, Tennessee
Political party| Jacksonian Republican
Alma mater| Washington College
Profession|

* lawyer
* politician

John Blair (September 13, 1790 - July 9, 1863) was an American slave owner[1] and politician who represented Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives.

## Biography

[edit]

Blair was born in Blairs Mill near Jonesborough in the Southwest Territory, the son of John Blair, Jr., and attended Martin Academy. He graduated from Washington College in Tennessee in 1809. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1813, and began practicing.

## Career

[edit]

A member of the Tennessee House of Representatives between 1815 and 1817, Blair also served as a member of the Tennessee Senate between 1817 and 1821.[2]

Blair was elected as a Jacksonian Republican to the Eighteenth Congress and re-elected as a Jacksonian to the Nineteenth through Twenty-third Congresses. He served as a U.S. Representative from March 4, 1823, to March 3, 1835.[3] During the Twentieth Congress, he was chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Expenditures in the State Department. He was chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of State (Twentieth Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election to the Twenty-fourth Congress in 1834.

After retiring to private life, Blair again became a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1849 and 1850. He resumed the practice of law.

## Death

[edit]

Blair died in Jonesboro, Tennessee on July 9, 1863, at age 72 years, 330 days. He is interred at Old Cemetery in Jonesboro.[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Congress slaveowners", The Washington Post, January 27, 2022, retrieved January 31, 2022
2. ^ "John Blair". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
3. ^ "John Blair". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
4. ^ "John Blair". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved February 17, 2013.

## External links

[edit]

* United States Congress. "John Blair (id: B000528)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives

Preceded by

John Rhea

|  Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 1st congressional district
1823-1835  | Succeeded by

William B. Carter

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
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National|

* United States

People|

* US Congress

Other|

* SNAC