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Frank Blair: Lincoln's Conservative (MISSOURI BIOGRAPHY SERIES)

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Frank Blair was one of the more significant figures of the Civil War era, helping keep his home state of Missouri within the Union. Blair, who was a son and brother of equally famous politicians, served as a state politician, congressman, senator, and was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 1868. Blair also achieved a solid record as a political general during the Civil War serving in the Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Carolina Campaigns. Blair was one of the founders of the Republican party in Missouri, although he held conservative views and switched to the Democratic party after the conclusion of the war. Blair was virulent racist who opposed political rights for blacks. He died at a relatively young age, worn out by a stressful life and abuse of alcohol and tobacco.
Parrish is the leading historian of Civil War-era Missouri. His work focuses heavily on Blair's political life, but also provides details on his subject's family life. Due to the subjects' relative obscurity and the heavy concentration on politics, this work will appeal to Civil War specialists only.