Evening star., 1948-10-04
Henry Patterson Blair, Lawyer
And Philanthropist, Dies at 80

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Son Of New Hampshire
Senator Aided Boys
| Activities, Churches
| Henry Patterson Blair, 80, busi-
ness and community leader here for
many years, died last night at Epis-
copal Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital,
where he had been a patient since
September 7.
Mr.. Blair, son of the late Senator
Henry William Blair of New Hamp-
shire, had lived most of his life in
Washington. A tall, bearded man,
he was a prominent attorney and
insurance executive who found time
also for a wide range Of civic and
philanthropic activities.
Funeral services will be held at
Ia pm. Thursday at st. Marks
Church, with the Most Rev. Angus
Dun, Episcopal Bishop of Washing
ton, officiating. Bishop Dun will be
assisted by the Rev. Robert j. Plumb
of St. Marks and the Rev. G. Free
land Peter. Burial will be in New
Hampshire, near Plymouth.
Mr.. Blairs chief interests centered
in his church, in hospitals and IN
boys work. He Stunned publicity
to such an extent, however, that
relatively little concerning his
philanthropies appeared in print.
He was q member Of the original
committee set up to determine the
feasibility Of prepayment hospital
service for Washington. He drafted
the articles of incorporation for
Group disqualification, Inc, as well
as its original subscriber service
contracts.
Served on Board.
He did this as a volunteer COM
munity service In behalf OF a non
profit organization, and served as
a member Of the board from March,
1888, until July, 1887. The group
disqualification movement, OF which
he was one of the motivators, now
has 375,O0O subscribers here.
Mr.. Blair was one OF the original
incorporators of the Episcopal Eye,
Ear and Throat Hospital in 1897.
Since 1925, he had been first vice
president of the board and chair
man Of the Executive Committee.
He thus had accepted the admins
trative responsibility for the institu-
ton.
He also had been a member of the
Board of Directors of Columbia
Hospital for many years. He had
been active in the affairs OF the
Hospital Council here.
Last month, he was named for
honorary membership in the Amerl-
can Hospital Association in recognl-
ton of his contributions to hospitals
here.
Joined Choir in 1885.
Mr.. Blair joined the choir OF men
and boys at st. Marks Church, Sol
A street S. E., when it first was Or
ganized in 1885. He organized St.
Marks Choir Camp in 1898 at Corn
field Harbor on Chesapeake Bay,
near Point Lookout in st. Marys
County, Md. It was abandoned due
to war conditions In 1912.
Mr.. Blair sang bass In the choir
for some so years, and rarely was
absent from church services, vestry
meetings or choir rehearsals. He
had served on the vestry since 1906,
as parish registrar from 1909 to 1914
and as parish treasurer from 1915
until his death.
When the executive council Of the
diocese of Washington was created
In 1926, Mr.. Blair became its first
vice president. He served on the
council until 1915, and as chairman
Of the diocesan department OF
finance from 1943 until 1945.
He was an originator of the Dis
trict Boy Scout Board and was in
strumental in the founding Of the
Boy Scouts national movement in
this country.
In June, he was named president
emeritus Of the Board of Directors
of Friendship House on his retire.
ment as president after serving since
1912.
Born in New Hampshire.
He was born at Plymouth. His
mother was Eliza Nelson Blair.
His father represented New Hamp-
shire in Congress both as Senator
and Representative from 1879 to
1895. after which he practiced law
in Washington until his death in
1920.
Mr.. Blair attended public schools
here, and was graduated from Phil
lips Exeter Academy and Dartmouth
College.
The younger Mr.. Blair studied
law at Columbian Law School, now
George Washington University Law
School. He began practice in WASH
ington In 1894 with Henry Wise
Garnett. When Mr.. Garnett died,
Mr. Blair formed q partnership in
1896 with Corcoran Thorn, which
continued until 1909 when Mr.. Thorn
became president of the American
Security & Trust Co.
From 1901 until 1904, he taught
at Columbian Law School and con-
tinued his teaching after it became
the law school OF George Washing
ton University until 1909, when he
resigned to give full time to his
law work.
Mr.. Blair was first assistant cor
poration counsel of Washington
from 1904 to 1909. He was a men,
ber of the Board of Education for
six years, serving as its president
from 1918 until 1916.
Headed Insurance Firm.
In 1914 he became president of
the Equitable Life Insurance Co.
Since the death five years ago Of
Allan c. Clark, organizer and Sec
retary Of the insurance company,
its administration had taken up
most Of Mr.. Blair's time.
Mr.. Blair was member of the
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