Austin Blair

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Austin Blair
13th Governor of Michigan
In office January 2, 1861 – January 5, 1865
Lieutenant	James M. Birney 1861 Joseph R. Williams 1861 (Acting) Henry T. Backus 1861-63 Charles S. May 1863-65
Preceded by	Moses Wisner
Succeeded by	Henry H. Crapo
Chairman of the House Republican Conference
In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873
Speaker	James G. Blaine
Preceded by	Robert C. Schenck/ Nathaniel P. Banks
Succeeded by	Horace Maynard
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1873
Preceded by	John W. Longyear
Succeeded by	George Willard
Member of the Michigan Senate from the 12th district
In office 1855–1856
Preceded by	Moses Archibald McNaughton
Succeeded by	Joseph E. Beebe
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the Jackson County district
In office 1846
Personal details
Born	February 8, 1818 Caroline, New York
Died	August 6, 1894 (aged 76) Jackson, Michigan
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Sarah L. Ford

Austin Blair (February 8, 1818 – August 6, 1894), also known as the Civil War Governor, was a politician who served as the 13th governor of Michigan and in Michigan's House of Representatives and Senate as well as the U.S. Senate. He was known as a strong opponent of slavery and secession. He also led efforts to provide women and black citizens the right to vote.^{[citation needed]} He simultaneously sought to ban capital punishment.