John Durburrow Blair
John Durburrow Blair was a notable figure in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, born in Pennsylvania as the son of Reverend John Blair. He graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1775, where he was significantly influenced by the teachings of its president, John Witherspoon. Following his graduation, he became the principal of Washington Henry Academy in Virginia and was licensed to preach in 1784, joining the pastoral staff at the Church of Pole Green in Hanover.
In 1792, Blair relocated to Richmond, Virginia, where he established a classical school and a new church, illustrating a commitment to education and community building. His collaborative efforts with Rev. John Buchanan at St. John's Church highlight the spirit of religious tolerance during that period. Throughout his life, Blair authored several sermons, including one commemorating George Washington and another addressing the challenges of managing anger, showcasing his literary talent and engagement with contemporary issues. After his passing in 1823, a collection of his sermons was published, which not only addressed traditional theological themes but also reflected his rational perspective on religion.
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John Durburrow Blair
Writer
- Born: October 15, 1759
- Birthplace: Fagg's Manor, Pennsylvania
- Died: January 10, 1823
- Place of death: Richmond, Virginia
Biography
The son of Reverend John Blair, John Durburrow Blair was born in Pennsylvania in the mid-eighteenth century. Blair attended the College of New Jersey, where he was much influenced by a tract written by the president of the College, John Witherspoon, called “Scots philosophy of Common Sense.” After graduating from the College in 1775, Blair was appointed principle of Washington Henry Academy in Virginia (with Witherspoon’s assistance). He received his license to preach from the Presbyterian ministry in 1784 and joined the pastoral office of the Church of Pole Green in Hanover, Virginia. In 1792, Blair moved to Richmond, Virginia, to open a classical school and build a new church. First, Blair alternated preaching with Rev. John Buchanan, who was an Episcopalian, at St. John’s Church, which shows the tolerance of the two men as well as the community of which they were apart. When the new Presbyterian church was built, Blair presided over it until his death in the 1820’s.
During his lifetime, Blair published two of his sermons, A Sermon on the Death of Lieutenant General George Washington, which displays Blair’s wide reading and poetic prose as well as a historical statement about future hopes of America, and A Sermon on the Impetuosity and Bad Effects of Passion and the Most Likely Means of Subduing It which offers several tips for those inclined to act on feelings of anger. After his death in 1823, a collection of Blair’s sermons were published. This collection includes some thirty sermons on traditional topics of sin, the soul, and future punishment, but they are also significant sources of Blair’s views on the rational nature of religion.