Legislator Details

Image of Austin Blair
Image Description:
Austin Blair portrait from Chapman(O) p.144

Austin Blair
AKA:
Number of sessions served 2
Sessions served
Gender: Male
Age at election: 27

Vital Records Information:

Birth
Date: 2/8/1818
City: Caroline, NY
County: Tompkins County, NY
Country: US
 
Death
Date: 8/6/1894
City: Jackson, MI
County: Jackson County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial: interred
Burial
Date:
City:
County:
Country:
Cemetery: Mount Evergreen Cemetery

Marital Information:
Married Sarah L. Ford of Seneca Co., NY, 2/1849; children: George H., Charles A., Fred J. & Austin T.

Number of Children: 4

Background

Religion: Not a member of any denomination.
Military Service:
Occupation: lawyer
Race:

Education:
Graduated from Union College, Schenectady, NY 1839 Studied law in Oswego for two years.

Biographical Sketch:
Of Scottish descent. Son of George & Rhoda (Beakman) Blair. Attended Hamilton College in Clinton, NY; grad. from Union College, Schenectady, N.Y., 1837; studied law in Oswego, NY; admitted to the bar, Tioga Co., N.Y., 1841; moved to Michigan & settled in Eaton Rapids, 1842 moved to Jackson, 1844; prosecuting attorney of Jackson Co., 1852. Also County Clerk of Eaton CO. A Whig until c1848 when he joined the Free-soil movement which evolved into the Republican Party in 1854.

Notable Facts:
Committees: Judiciary. Member of the state House & Senate. Gov. of Michigan 1/1/1861-1/1/1865, the 'war governor'; elected to the 40th-42nd Congresses (3/4/1867-3/3/1873); active in the abolition of capital punishment

Sessions Served:

Eighteenth Legislature, 1855-1856
Chamber: Senate
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Enrolled Bills, Public Instruction, State Affairs
Postions Held:

City of Residence: Jackson
County of Residence Jackson
District: 12
District Description:

Date Elected: 11/8/1854
Date Sworn In: 1/3/1855
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed

Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes:
Eleventh Legislature, 1846
Chamber: House
Party: Unknown
Committees Served On: Judiciary
Postions Held:

City of Residence: Jackson
County of Residence Jackson
District: Jackson
District Description: Jackson County

Date Elected: 11/3/1845
Date Sworn In: 1/5/1846
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed

Maritial Status: Unknown
Notes:

Bibliography:

CongBio p.669; Lanman p.421-22; Chapman (Le) p.144-46, portrait p.144; Rep.Dist. 3:10, portrait facing p.10; MIBiog:1:87;
View Bibliographical Sources