US Exe Blair, Montgomery - U.S. Postmaster Gen'l

Montgomery Blair
United States Postmaster General
:us34stars:
Blair.jpg


Born: May 10, 1813

Birthplace: Franklin County, Kentucky

Father: Francis Preston Blair Sr. 1791 – 1876
(Buried: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Mother: Eliza Violet Gist 1794 – 1877
(Buried: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Wife: Caroline Rebecca Buckner

Wife: Mary Elizabeth Woodbury 1821 – 1887
(Buried: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​
Signature:
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Children:

Elizabeth “Betty” Blair Comstock 1841 – 1872​
(Buried: U.S. Military Academy, Post Cemetery, West Point, N.Y.)​
Minna Blair Richey 1850 – 1919​
(Buried: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​
Maria G. Blair 1851 – 1862​
(Buried: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​
Woodbury Blair 1852 – 1933​
(Buried: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​
Gist Blair 1860 – 1940​
(Buried: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​
Montgomery Blair II 1865 – 1944​
(Buried: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Education:

1835: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (18th in class)​

Occupation before War:

1835: Brevet, 2nd Lt. United States Army, 4th Artillery​
1835 – 1836: Brevet, 2nd Lt. United States Army, 2nd Artillery​
1836: Resigned from United States Army on May 20th​
1839 – 1843: Attorney in Saint Louis, Missouri​
1839 – 1843: United States Attorney, District of Missouri​
1842 – 1843: Captain, Missouri State Militia​
1843 – 1849: Judge, St. Louis, Missouri Court of Common Pleas​
1853 – 1861: Attorney in Montgomery County, Maryland​
1855 – 1858: United States Solicitor Court of Claims​
1856 – 1857: Attorney for Dred Scott​
1860: President of Maryland State Republican Convention​
Blair 1.jpg

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1864: United States Postmaster General​
Helped establish free city delivery of mail​
Helped with adoption of money order system​
Helped establish use of rail mail cars​

Occupation after War:

1864 – 1883:
Attorney in Montgomery County, Maryland

Supporter of Democratic Political Party due to radical Reconstruction

1874: Maryland Lay Delegate to General Convention of Episcopal Ch.

1876: Counsel for William W. Belknap during investigation

1882: Unsuccessful Candidate for U.S. Congress

Died: July 27, 1883

Place of Death: Silver Spring, Maryland

Age at time of Death: 70 years old

Burial Place: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
 
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Blair resigned in 1864 during the Presidential Campaign when asked to do so by Lincoln. He had said he'd resign if asked to way back in 1862. This probably had something to do with Fremont's withdrawal from the race. He was mistrusted by the Radical Republicans and seen as a moderate at best. He had entered politics as a Democrat and later returned to the Democratic Party.
 
Blair resigned in 1864 during the Presidential Campaign when asked to do so by Lincoln. He had said he'd resign if asked to way back in 1862. This probably had something to do with Fremont's withdrawal from the race. He was mistrusted by the Radical Republicans and seen as a moderate at best. He had entered politics as a Democrat and later returned to the Democratic Party.
Think the Drake Constitution had a lot with him reverting back to Democrat, his brother correctly pointed out that even he as a major general of the Union Army couldn't vote under the Drake requirements
 
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