William Blair

William Blair (died 21 October 1841) was a Scottish landowner and Tory politician. He was the Laird of Blair in Ayrshire in Scotland from 1782 to 1841. He was also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ayrshire constituency from 1829 to 32.

Background William Blair was the only son of Jane Williams and Major Hamilton Blair, the preceding laird of the barony of Blair in Ayrshire. Hamilton Blair succeeded his elder half brother from his father's first marriage, William Blair. Their father, William Scott, an advocate from Malleny near Edinburgh, 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 Dalry.

Political career At the Ayrshire county meeting in April 1821, Blair seconded a petition opposing any change to the Scottish jury system.

In autumn 1828, Blair and Sir James Fergusson canvassed local freeholders, both professed "friendly dispositions" towards the Duke of Wellington'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. Blair opposed the second reading of the Grey government's electoral Reform Act in March 1831, which aimed to increase the number of voters in electorates throughout the United Kingdom.

Family Blair married Magdalen Fordyce, daughter of John Fordyce, at St James's Church, Piccadilly in April 1789. They had 12 children: Catherine Eglinton Blair, 1790–1847 Madaline Blair, 1791–1867 Hamilton Blair, 1793–1816 Louise Jean Blair, 1795–1817, married Col. William Jackson, son of George Jackson of Enniscoe Elizabeth Agnes Blair, 1797-1861 John Charles Blair, 1798–1836 Charlotte Ann Blair, 1801– Jane Gordon Blair, 1803–29 William Fordyce Blair, J.P., D.L., Capt. R.N., 1805–88, successor Georgina Eglantine Blair, 1807–85 Henry Melville Blair, 1809–37 Augustus Thomas Blair, 1810–57

Blair died in Edinburgh in October 1841, leaving the Blair estate to his eldest surviving son, William Fordyce Blair, a naval captain.