Legislator born in
Campton, N. H., Dec. 6, 1834; enlisted in the 15th New Hampshire Volunteers at the opening of the
Civil War, and became lieutenant-colonel; was wounded at Fort Hudson.
He was a member of Congress in 1879-79, and of the United States Senate in 1879-91.
He was the author of the famous illiteracy bill which proposed to distribute $77.000,000 to the States in proportion to their illiteracy.
This bill was passed by the Senate three times, but failed to become a law.
Senator Blair was appointed
United States minister to
China, but resigned, as the Chinese government objected to him because cause of his opposition to (
Chinese immigration to the
United States.
