Blair. I. Francis Preston, an American journalist, born at Abingdon, Washington county, Va., April 12, 1791. He was educated at Transylvania university, Kentucky, and studied law, but never practised. He early took part in politics, and in 1824 supported Henry Clay for the presidency, but dissented from his views, especially in relation to the United States bank. When in 1829 the nullification movement was developed in South Carolina, Mr. Blair published an article against it in a Kentucky newspaper, which attracted the attention of Gen. Jackson, who invited the writer to become the editor of the "Globe," a democratic journal about to be established in Washington. The journal was commenced in November, 1830, and became the organ of the successive democratic administrations, Mr. Blair retaining the control of it till 1845, when President Polk thought it necessary for the harmony of the ]tarty that the organ should be placed in other hands, offering Mr. Blair the position of minister to Spain, which was declined. He then retired to his estate of Silver Springs, Montgomery county, Md. In 1848 he withdrew from the regular democratic party, and supported Mr. Van Buren for the presidency. After the repeal of the Missouri compromise he took an active part in the organization of the republican party.

II. Montgomery, son of the preceding, born in Franklin county, Ky., May 10, 1813. He was educated at West Point, graduating in 1835, and served in the Seminole war. In 1836 he resigned his commission in the army, and entered upon the practice of law in St. Louis; was appointed United States district attorney for Missouri in 1839; and from 1843 to 1849 was a judge of the court of common pleas. In 1852 he removed to Maryland, and in 1855 was appointed solicitor of the United States in the court of claims. Previous to the repeal of the Missouri compromise he had been a democrat; afterward he became a member of the republican party, and was in consequence removed from his office by President Buchanan in 1858. In 1857 he acted as counsel for the plaintiff in the Dred Scott case. In 1860 he presided over the republican convention of Maryland, and in 1861 was appointed by President Lincoln postmaster general, which post he held till 1864. Since that time he has acted with the opponents of the republican party.

III. Francis Preston, jr., brother of the preceding, born at Lexington, Ky., Feb. 19, 1821. He graduated at the college of New Jersey in 1841, and began the practice of law in St. Louis. In 1845, his health having become impaired, he made a journey to the Rocky mountains in company with a party of trappers. Being in New Mexico when hostilities with Mexico broke out, he entered the army as a private and served till 1847, when he returned to St. Louis and resumed his profession. In 1848 he attached himself to the free-soil branch of the democratic party, supporting Mr. Van Buren for the presidency, publicly opposed the extension of slavery into the territories, and for a time was editor of the "Missouri Democrat." In 1852, and again in 1854, he was elected to the legislature of Missouri. In 1856 he was elected a member of congress as a republican, and made a speech in favor of colonizing the colored population of the United States in Central America. At the next congressional election his democratic opponent was returned, and Mr. Blair contested the seat.

He was again elected to congress in 1860 and 1862. He entered the army as colonel of volunteers in 1861, and was appointed brigadier general Aug. 7 and major general Nov. 29, 1862, resigning his seat in congress in 1863. He commanded a division during the Vicksburg campaign, and in 1864-'5 the 17th corps in the army of the Tennessee in Sherman's campaigns from Chattanooga to Atlanta, in the march to the sea, and in the Carolinas. In 1866 he was appointed collector of customs at St. Louis, and commissioner of the Pacific railroad. Becoming dissatisfied with the policy of the administration, he returned to the democratic party, and in 1868 was its candidate for the office of vice president. In 1870 he was chosen United States senator from Missouri to fill a vacancy, his term expiring March 4, 1873.