Francis Preston Blair Jr.

Francis Preston Blair Jr.
Blair in 1862
United States Senator from Missouri
In office January 20, 1871 – March 3, 1873
Preceded by	Daniel T. Jewett
Succeeded by	Lewis V. Bogy
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 1st district
In office March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859
Preceded by	Luther M. Kennett
Succeeded by	John R. Barret
In office June 8, 1860 – June 25, 1860
Preceded by	John R. Barret
Succeeded by	John R. Barret
In office March 4, 1861 – June 10, 1864
Preceded by	John R. Barret
Succeeded by	Samuel Knox
Personal details
Born	(1821-02-19)February 19, 1821 Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	July 8, 1875(1875-07-08) (aged 54) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Resting place	Bellefontaine Cemetery
Political party	Democratic (before 1848, 1866–75) Free Soil (1848–54) Republican (1854–61) Unconditional Union (1861-66)
Spouse	Appoline Alexander ​ (m. 1847)​
Children	8
Parent	Francis Preston Blair (father)
Relatives	Montgomery Blair (brother) Benjamin Gratz Brown (cousin)
Education	Yale University University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Princeton University (BA) Transylvania University
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	U.S. Army (Union Army)
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Major general
Commands	1st Brigade, 4th Division, XV Corps 2nd Division, XV Corps XV Corps XVII Corps
Battles/wars	Mexican- American War American Civil War

Francis Preston Blair Jr. (February 19, 1821 – July 8, 1875) was a United States Senator, a United States Congressman and a Union Major General during the Civil War. He represented Missouri in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and was active in preventing the State of Missouri from being absorbed into the Confederacy at the beginning of the Civil War.

Blair was instrumental in appointing Nathaniel Lyon as the new military commander of the Western Department of the U.S. Army. He assisted Lyon in securing help of the St. Louis Home Guard in moving over 20,000 rifles and muskets from the St. Louis Arsenal to Illinois. Missouri secessionists considered this event as breaking of informal truce established in the state. This set the scene for the Camp Jackson Affair and continuing guerrilla activity by outraged pro-slavery elements. In 1862, Blair joined the Missouri volunteers, being promoted major general, commanded a division at Vicksburg under Sherman, took part in Sherman's March to the Sea and ended the war as a corps commander.

In 1868, he was Horatio Seymour's vice-presidential candidate, but his dramatic speeches about the dangers of black emancipation were believed by some to have cost the Democrats the election. Blair suffered a paralyzing stroke in 1872, but continued to be active in state politics until his death three years later.