Andrew G. Blair
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The Honourable Andrew George Blair PC, KC |
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Blair as a member of Wilfrid Laurier's cabinet
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| 7th Premier of New Brunswick | |
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In office March 3, 1883 – July 17, 1896 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Lieutenant Governor |
Robert Duncan Wilmot Samuel Leonard Tilley John Boyd John James Fraser |
| Preceded by | Daniel L. Hanington |
| Succeeded by | James Mitchell |
| MLA for York | |
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In office June 25, 1878 – October 22, 1892 Serving with John James Fraser, Edward Ludlow Wetmore, Richard Bellamy, Thomas Colter, Frederick P. Thompson, William Wilson, George J. Colter, David R. Moore, John Anderson |
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| Preceded by | Robert Robinson |
| Succeeded by | George W. Allen |
| MLA for Queens | |
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In office October 22, 1892 – July 17, 1896 Serving with Laughlin Farris |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Hetherington |
| Succeeded by | Isaac W. Carpenter |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Sunbury—Queen's |
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In office August 25, 1896 – November 7, 1900 |
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| Preceded by | George Gerald King |
| Succeeded by | Robert Duncan Wilmot, Jr. |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for City and County of St. John |
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In office November 7, 1900 – December 27, 1903 |
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| Preceded by | John V. Ellis |
| Succeeded by | John Waterhouse Daniel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 7, 1844 Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Died | January 25, 1907 (aged 62) Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | Annie Elizabeth Thompson (m. 1866) |
| Children | 2 sons and 5 daughters |
| Alma mater | Fredericton Collegiate School |
| Occupation | Lawyer, lecturer |
| Profession | politician |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
Andrew George Blair, PC KC (March 7, 1844 – January 25, 1907) was a Canadian politician in New Brunswick, Canada. He served as Premier for 13 years and 136 days, the second-longest tenure in the province's history, behind Richard Hatfield's tenure of 16 years and 310 days.
He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1878 after unsuccessful attempts in the previous two elections. Though Blair was a supporter of Sir John A. Macdonald's federal Liberal-Conservatives, he joined the parliamentary opposition in the legislature and, in 1879, became leader of the opposition to the Conservative government of Premier John James Fraser. He molded the disparate opposition into the modern Liberal Party of New Brunswick, instituting party platforms or manifestos. He launched the first province-wide political campaign in an era when campaign had been run largely on a constituency basis. He took the party to power in 1883, winning enough support in the newly elected legislature to form a government. Blair became premier and Attorney-General.
Blair's government built a three-quarters of a mile long bridge across the Saint John River, linking Fredericton with villages and factories, notably that of Boss Gibson, on the other side of the river, in spite of opposition by the federal government, which maintained that it was beyond provincial power to do so. His government also went to court to win the right to grant liquor licenses. He also extended the franchise, which had been exclusively male, to widows and unmarried women who owned property. He was opposed, however, to universal female suffrage. His government also abolished the Legislative Council (the legislature's Upper House).
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