244:'s government. When Montgomerie died in April 1829, triggering a by-election, Fergusson did not stand, resulting in Blair claiming the election outright. While emphasising that he was not a member of a party, Blair stated that he supported "Tory principles" and the ministry considered him a supporter.
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in support of Oswald and the Reform Act, comprising some 5,000-,6000 people, including representatives from many classes of tradesmen. However, at the general election held on 18 May 1831, Blair defeated his pro-electoral reform opponent, Richard Oswald, 73 votes to 36, out of a possible 211 enrolled
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arrived to disperse the crowd. Blair was then escorted to the quay to board a ship, but when the troops left, the deck was pelted with stones, injuring those on board, including Blair who received a severe cut to the back of the head. In town, the windows of Blair's supporters were smashed. After
225:, had first married the Blair heiress Magadalene Blair, who died around 1715. Scot subsequently adopted the name Blair. The Blair family had been prominent for over 600 years in Ayrshire. The seat of the Blair barony, Blair House, is located about a mile and a half south-east of the township of
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became prime minister in a landslide election, at which he had committed to introduce an electoral reform bill. Blair opposed the second reading of the Grey government's electoral
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freeholders. This win prompted outbursts in the courthouse where the votes were counted, and it was surrounded outside, with Blair unable to leave for three hours until
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Blair made no recorded remarks in parliamentary debates, he did however present several petitions to parliament on behalf, including one against the renewal of the
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in March 1831, which aimed to increase the number of voters in electorates throughout the United
Kingdom. Blair's opposition to the Reform Act prompted
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Blair died in
Edinburgh in October 1841, leaving the Blair estate to his eldest surviving son, William Fordyce Blair, a naval captain.
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passing at approximately the same time. The effect was considerable, in
Ayrshire the number of voters increased from 211 to 3,197.
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217:. Hamilton Blair succeeded his elder half brother from his father's first marriage, William Blair. Their father, William Scott, an
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In autumn 1828, Blair and Sir James
Fergusson canvassed local freeholders, both professed "friendly dispositions" towards the
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At the general election in 1832, Oswald stood again against Blair, who was heavily defeated and left office on 27 December.
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At the
Ayrshire county meeting in April 1821, Blair seconded a petition opposing any change to the Scottish jury system.
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History of the County of Ayr: with a genealogical account of the families of
Ayrshire, Vol. 1
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450:"BLAIR, William (-d.1841), of Blair, nr. Dalry, Ayr and 18 Downing Street, Westminster, Mdx"
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8:
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William Blair was the only son of Jane
Williams and Major Hamilton Blair, the preceding
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re-election in 1831, Blair continued to vote against the readings of the Reform Act.
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to run against him in the next election. On 6 May 1831 a march was held in
508:"On this Day: 22 November 1830: The Formation of Earl Grey's Government"
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Louise Jean Blair, 1795–1817, married Col. William
Jackson, son of
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William
Fordyce Blair, J.P., D.L., Capt. R.N., 1805–88, successor
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378:(Second ed.). Simpkin, Marshall & Company. p. 196
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181:(died 21 October 1841) was a Scottish landowner and
375:The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections
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193:in Scotland from 1782 to 1841. He was also the
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280:was passed into law on 7 June 1832, with the
302:Blair married Magdalen Fordyce, daughter of
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294:'s charter and an anti-slavery petition.
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406:. Ayr, Scotland: John Dick. p. 417.
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53:13 May 1829 – 27 December 1832
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16:Scottish landowner and Tory politician
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310:in April 1789. They had 12 children:
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314:Catherine Eglinton Blair, 1790–1847
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160:Ayrshire Regiment, Fencible Cavalry
124:12, including William Fordyce Blair
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678:People from Dalry, North Ayrshire
514:. The History of Parliament Trust
345:Georgina Eglantine Blair, 1807–85
486:The History of Parliament Online
330:Elizabeth Agnes Blair, 1797-1861
561:Urban, Sylvanus (April 1789).
351:Augustus Thomas Blair, 1810–57
1:
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348:Henry Melville Blair, 1809–37
333:John Charles Blair, 1798–1836
308:St James's Church, Piccadilly
247:On the 22 November 1830, the
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132:Hamilton Blair, Jane Williams
658:Scottish Tory MPs (pre-1912)
488:. Cambridge University Press
456:. Cambridge University Press
454:History of Parliament Online
372:Smith, Henry Stooks (1842).
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605:Parliament of Great Britain
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339:Jane Gordon Blair, 1803–29
336:Charlotte Ann Blair, 1801–
213:of the barony of Blair in
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512:The History of Parliament
320:Hamilton Blair, 1793–1816
317:Madaline Blair, 1791–1867
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635:Richard Alexander Oswald
567:The Gentleman's Magazine
400:Paterson, James (1847).
185:politician. He was the
90:Richard Alexander Oswald
563:"DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES"
276:The English and Welsh
199:Ayrshire constituency
621:Member of Parliament
195:Member of Parliament
36:Member of Parliament
282:Scottish Reform Act
537:"Mr William Blair"
292:East India Company
242:Duke of Wellington
221:from Malleny near
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632:Succeeded by
614:James Montgomerie
541:Hansard 1803–2005
201:from 1829 to 32.
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78:James Montgomerie
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673:UK MPs 1831–1832
668:UK MPs 1830–1831
663:UK MPs 1826–1830
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233:Political career
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100:Personal details
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304:John Fordyce
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189:of Blair in
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137:Residence(s)
85:Succeeded by
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653:1841 deaths
382:5 September
327:of Enniscoe
251:politician
73:Preceded by
647:Categories
482:"Ayrshire"
359:References
278:Reform Act
265:Kilmarnock
257:Reform Act
205:Background
66:William IV
253:Earl Grey
223:Edinburgh
129:Parent(s)
62:George IV
49:In office
629:1829–32
625:Ayrshire
577:16 April
573:(4): 371
546:16 April
518:16 April
492:16 April
460:15 April
270:dragoons
219:advocate
215:Ayrshire
191:Ayrshire
146:Ayrshire
121:Children
58:Monarchs
41:Ayrshire
168:Colonel
298:Family
113:Spouse
306:, at
227:Dalry
211:laird
187:Laird
142:Dalry
623:for
579:2022
548:2022
520:2022
494:2022
462:2022
384:2018
249:Whig
183:Tory
165:Rank
105:Died
64:and
39:for
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