
John Blair Jr. was an American Founding Father, lawyer, politician, and judge. He was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1732 and died in 1800. He was a delegate from Virginia to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which met in Philadelphia, and signed the United States Constitution at the age of 55. He was also appointed an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court by President George Washington, serving from 1790 to 1795 or 1796. John Blair was a member of a prominent Virginia family, and his father, also named John Blair, served as a colonial official and on the Governor's Council.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Blair Jr. |
| Birth Date | April 17, 1732 |
| Birthplace | Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Death Date | August 31, 1800 |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Politician, Judge |
| Role in U.S. Constitution | Signed the Constitution as a delegate from Virginia; Participated in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 |
| Judicial Service | Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1790–1796) |
| Education | Studied law at Middle Temple, London |
| Notable Achievements | Founding Father, Helped write the U.S. Constitution, Served in Virginia House of Burgesses (1766–1770) |
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What You'll Learn

John Blair was a delegate from Virginia
John Blair, born in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1732, was a delegate from Virginia who signed the United States Constitution. He was the son of John Blair, a colonial official, and his mother was Mary (Monro). He was also the nephew of James Blair, the founder and first president of the College of William and Mary. John Jr. graduated from that institution and went on to study law at London's Middle Temple. He practiced law in Williamsburg, and from 1766 to 1770, he served as the representative of William and Mary College in the Virginia House of Burgesses.
In 1776, John Blair Jr. took part in the convention that framed the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution. He also served on the Privy Council, Governor Patrick Henry's major advisory group, from 1776 to 1778. The legislature elected him as a judge in the General Court in 1778, and he soon rose to the position of chief justice. He was also elected to Virginia's High Court of Chancery in 1780, which was a predecessor of the Virginia Court of Appeals.
In 1787, John Blair Jr. was appointed as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he helped write the United States Constitution. He was a close friend of George Washington, who appointed him to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1789. John Blair Jr. served on the Supreme Court from 1790 until his retirement in 1796. He was a judicial conservative who influenced the interpretation of the Constitution through several important decisions.
John Blair Jr. was a member of one of Virginia's most prominent families, and he was also an American Founding Father. He was a lawyer, politician, and judge who played a significant role in shaping the early legal landscape of the United States. He was devoted to the idea of a permanent union of the newly independent states and was an active patriot.
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He was a member of the Constitutional Convention
John Blair, born in 1732 in Williamsburg, Virginia, was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1790 to 1796. He was a member of one of Virginia's most prominent families and a close friend of George Washington. Blair studied law at the Middle Temple in London and was elected in 1766 to represent William and Mary College in the Virginia House of Burgesses, serving until 1770. From 1770 to 1775, he was the clerk of the colony's council.
In 1776, John Blair took part in the Virginia Constitutional Convention, where he sat on the committee that drafted a declaration of rights and a plan for a new government. He was also a member of the convention that drew up Virginia's constitution, holding several important committee positions, including a seat on the Committee of 28, which framed the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution of 1776.
In 1787, Blair was appointed as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he represented Virginia. He was a loyal supporter of fellow Virginian James Madison at the convention. As a member of the convention, Blair helped to write the United States Constitution, and he signed the document as a delegate from Virginia.
John Blair's involvement in the Constitutional Convention reflects his dedication to the formation of a permanent union among the newly independent states. His legal expertise and contributions to the development of the Constitution were recognised and commemorated, solidifying his legacy as one of America's Founding Fathers.
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He was appointed to the US Supreme Court
John Blair, born in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1732, was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1790 to 1796. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by President George Washington in 1789 and took his oath of office the following year.
Blair was a member of one of Virginia's most prominent families and was a close friend of George Washington. He studied law at the Middle Temple in London and was elected to represent William and Mary College in the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1766. He served in the Burgesses until 1770 and then served as the clerk of the royal governor's Council for five years. In 1776, he took part in the convention to frame a constitution and plan of government for the new commonwealth of Virginia and was elected to the state Privy Council. He also served on the High Court of Chancery, which was a predecessor of the Virginia Court of Appeals.
Blair was a widely respected legal scholar and played an active role in state politics. He was a loyal supporter of fellow Virginians and served on the Supreme Court, influencing the interpretation of the Constitution in several important decisions. He was praised by his contemporaries for his ability to get to the heart of legal questions and for his gentleness and benevolence.
Blair's tenure on the Supreme Court coincided with a light caseload, with only 13 cases decided over six years. However, he participated in the landmark Chisholm v. Georgia case, which is considered the first significant and impactful Supreme Court case in US history.
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He was a supporter of a permanent union of independent states
John Blair Jr. was a supporter of a permanent union of independent states. He was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1732, and was a member of one of Virginia's most prominent families. He studied law at the Middle Temple in London and was elected to represent William and Mary College in the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1766. He served in the Burgesses until 1770 and then for five years as the clerk of the royal governor's Council.
In 1776, Blair took part in the convention to frame a constitution and plan of government for the new commonwealth of Virginia. He was also a member of the Committee of 28 that framed the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution of 1776. He served on the Privy Council, Governor Patrick Henry's major advisory group, from 1776 to 1778. The legislature elected him as a judge in the General Court in 1778, and he soon became its chief justice. He was also elected to Virginia's High Court of Chancery in 1780, which made him a member of Virginia's first court of appeals.
Blair was appointed as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was a loyal supporter of fellow Virginians James Madison and at the convention. He signed the United States Constitution as a delegate from Virginia and was appointed an Associate Justice on the first U.S. Supreme Court by George Washington. He served on the Supreme Court from 1790 until his retirement in 1796.
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He was a close friend of George Washington
John Blair Jr. was an American Founding Father, a delegate from Virginia, and a signatory to the United States Constitution. He was also appointed an Associate Justice on the first U.S. Supreme Court by George Washington. Blair was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1732, and was a member of one of the state's most prominent families. He studied law at the Middle Temple in London and was a close friend of George Washington.
Blair and Washington worked together on several occasions, notably in 1770 and 1774, when they joined forces to draft nonimportation agreements. These agreements pledged to cease the importation of British goods until taxes imposed by the British Parliament on the colonies were repealed. This was in response to the Stamp Act and a series of other taxes. In 1775, Blair also joined Washington in calling for a Continental Congress and expressing support for the people of Boston, who were facing economic hardship due to Parliament's actions.
In 1789, President George Washington nominated Blair for one of the five associate justice positions on the newly established U.S. Supreme Court. Blair served on the Supreme Court from 1790 to 1795 or 1796, depending on the source. During his tenure, he participated in the landmark case of Chisholm v. Georgia, which is considered the first significant and impactful Supreme Court case in U.S. history.
John Blair was devoted to the idea of a permanent union of the newly independent states, and his contemporaries praised him for his legal acumen, gentleness, and benevolence. He was also a very active Freemason and played a role in the formation of the first Grand Lodge of Virginia.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, John Blair Jr. signed the United States Constitution as a delegate from Virginia.
John Blair was an American Founding Father, lawyer, politician, and judge. He was born in 1732 in Williamsburg, Virginia, and died in 1800 in the same city.
John Blair was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which met in Philadelphia. He was a delegate from Virginia and helped write the United States Constitution.
John Blair attended the College of William and Mary, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in 1754. He then went to London to study law at the Middle Temple.
John Blair served as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1790 to 1796. He was appointed to this position by President George Washington. He was also a close friend of George Washington and a very active Freemason.


















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