7th Premier of New Brunswick. A member of the Liberal Party, he served in this position from March 1883 until July 1896. The son of a carpenter and surveyor, after attending the Fredericton Collegiate School in Fredericton, New Brunswick, he studied law in his uncle's law office at age 14 and became an attorney in 1865 and was admitted to the bar the following year. In 1867 he entered a law partnership with George Frederick Gregory. In 1870 he entered politics and ran unsuccessfully for the New Brunswick Legislature, as well as in 1874. In 1878 he was finally elected and joined the parliamentary opposition, becoming the Leader of the Opposition in 1879 to Premier John James Fraser's Conservative government. In 1883 his Liberal Party won the election in New Brunswick and he became its Premier, replacing Daniel L. Hanington. During his tenure, a bridge across the Saint John River was constructed, liquor licenses were issued, the Legislative Council was abolished, extended the right to vote to widows and unmarried women who owned property, but he was opposed to universal female suffrage. In July 1896 he stepped down as Premier to take the job as Canada's Minister of Railways and Canals under Canadian Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier and was replaced by James Mitchell. In August 1896 he won a seat to the Canadian parliament in a by-election, serving until December 1903 when Laurier appointed him to head the Board of Railway Commissioners. In 1904 he resigned from that position and left politics. He died from a heart attack at the age of 62.
7th Premier of New Brunswick. A member of the Liberal Party, he served in this position from March 1883 until July 1896. The son of a carpenter and surveyor, after attending the Fredericton Collegiate School in Fredericton, New Brunswick, he studied law in his uncle's law office at age 14 and became an attorney in 1865 and was admitted to the bar the following year. In 1867 he entered a law partnership with George Frederick Gregory. In 1870 he entered politics and ran unsuccessfully for the New Brunswick Legislature, as well as in 1874. In 1878 he was finally elected and joined the parliamentary opposition, becoming the Leader of the Opposition in 1879 to Premier John James Fraser's Conservative government. In 1883 his Liberal Party won the election in New Brunswick and he became its Premier, replacing Daniel L. Hanington. During his tenure, a bridge across the Saint John River was constructed, liquor licenses were issued, the Legislative Council was abolished, extended the right to vote to widows and unmarried women who owned property, but he was opposed to universal female suffrage. In July 1896 he stepped down as Premier to take the job as Canada's Minister of Railways and Canals under Canadian Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier and was replaced by James Mitchell. In August 1896 he won a seat to the Canadian parliament in a by-election, serving until December 1903 when Laurier appointed him to head the Board of Railway Commissioners. In 1904 he resigned from that position and left politics. He died from a heart attack at the age of 62.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Blair memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
