The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-11-18


william Alexander Blount was edu-
Gated at the University OF Georgia, and
his students career was successful and
brilliant. After being graduated with
the highest honors of his class in 1872,
he became an instructor OF mathemat-
les and English in this university, and
at the same timefwas a student in the
university's law department, from
which he graduated in the summer of
1873.
In the winter of 1873 Mr.. Blount was
admitted to the bar. and thereafter &C
lively engaged in the practice Of law
until the last few weeks Of his life.
AS a lawyer, his career from Its
beginning to its close, was one of the
greatest interest and value to the mem
bers of our profession, and especially
to all whose ambition for success and
honor in the pursuit Of our noble pro-
fession is vet to be gratified; and in
honory Of the memory of our deceased
brother, and for the edification of fu
ture generations. we desire to have in
scribed on the records Of this honorable |
court this review of his career.
The physical mental and moral
training, with other qualifications pos
sessed by this man well fitted him, at
the age of % years. for the arduous and
responsible duties of the legal profes-
sion. The flame Of ambition which in
spired him to win collegiate honors
became intensified by his necessitous
circumstances and by the great ability |
Of the experienced lawyers with whom
he was to contend for success in the !
practice of his profession.
With a desk in the office of Chas. w. |
Jones, then one Of the leading lawyers
of Florida. Mr.. Blount commenced the
practice of his profession at Pensacola.
His devoted zeal and remarkable ener-
gy and the skill and ability that he
displayed in the trial of his fir4t cases
attracted the attention and won the
admiration of all members of the bar. {
and he soon gained clientage OFT
which an older and more experienced
lawyer might have been proud.
In January, 1875, Chas w. Jones was
elected United States senator, and
when he left Pensacola to assume his
duties at Washington on March 4th of
that year he entrusted his office and
all his law business~to Mr.. B1ount, who
was thus placed in the position Of hav-
ing to contend single handed in the
trial of cases at the ensuing term of
this court with most of the experienced
and very able members of the bar
which was then conceded to have been
as strong as any in the state. This
opportunity enabled him to display bet
ter than ever before the learning, skill
and ability and the other qualifications
~ L. /
FASTENED, but was not the cause of, his
success in his procession.
During succeeding terms of court
there was a notable increase in the
cases in which he was engaged. and
within five years after his admission
to the bar it is reputed that his prac-
tfee was as large as that of any other
able lawyers Of this bar.
Within ten years after his admission
to the bar he had won the distinction
of being the leading lawyer of West
Florida, and the equal of any lawyer
in the state of Florida.
In 1885 he was elected delegate
from Escambia county to the Florida
constitutional convention. His industry,
and the learning and ability that he
displayed in that body Of distinguished
men added to his fame as lawyer
The ensuing decade yielded much lit
igation involving questions arising I'M
der the new constitution and other
questions of great public interest, and
in this litigation Mr.. Biount partici-
pated to a greater extent, probably.
than any other lawyer. He now enjoyed
the fame of a profound expounder of
constitutional law, and was conceded
to be the peer of any lawyer in this
section of the country.
His envied and deserved reputation
caused his legion of friends and admir-
ers to urge him to adopt a political ca
reer, but the lure Of almost certain po-
litieal honers could not induce him to
sacrifice the best interests Of his fam
lily, and of the large number of clients
who were dependent upon his profess
sional labors
Many years afterwards he yielded to
the importuning of his friends to be-
come candidate for senator from Es-
Gambia county in the legislature of
Florida. He was nominated and elect
ed to that office without opposition.
and served in the legislative sessions
Of 1903 and 1905. He was the ablest
iAANttAtCA VI tite1t bOuy udilbs TIE LGIIilS
in which he served. and his services
We're Of great value to the state and
creditable to him, His legislative du-
ties did not prevent him from pursuing
the practice of law, and during the
following years his law business in
creased, and his prestige as the fore
most lawyer in Florida beean-4 firmly
In 1910 the people of West Florida
We're almost unanimous in their solic-
itations of Mr.. Blount to become a
candidate for the, United States senate.
His personal and business affairs were
now in such condition that his friends
were successful in their appeals to him
to give his consent to become a candt-
date as the democratic nominee for
that office. and was defeated 10y very
small vote. although the people of his
hnrua enlIrty and a. 81 Vast Florida /