Blair was the first West Virginian to learn from President Abraham Lincoln that West Virginia would be admitted to the Union. Born in Parkersburg, Blair became a lawyer after studying under his uncle. He was a strong Union supporter during the Civil War and served in Congress, where he met with Lincoln in December 1862 about West Virginia’s statehood.

Blair was reelected to Congress twice and later served as a U.S. diplomat in Costa Rica. He spent his last years in Wyoming and Utah and died in Salt Lake City.