DeWitt Clinton Blair

DeWitt Clinton Blair (September 6, 1833 – June 3, 1915) was an American philanthropist and industrialist

Biography

He was born in Gravel Hill, New Jersey (later renamed Blairstown), was the son of John Insley Blair and Nancy Anne Locke. He continued his father's varied business interests and philanthropy. He graduated from Princeton University with the class of 1856, and served as a Princeton trustee from 1900-1909. He was instrumental in expanding the campus and buildings (Insley, East and Locke) of Blair Presbyterian Academy. On April 21, 1864 he married Mary Anna Kimball (1837 – February 12, 1914) with whom he had two sons Clinton Ledyard and James Insley. DeWitt Clinton Blair died in 1915 at the age of 81, less than a year after the passing of his wife Mary Anna.

In 1907, Blair contributed towards the expansion of Blair Hall at Princeton, which had originally been built with his father's donation to the school.

The Blair Estate, in Belvidere, New Jersey, was built in 1865 and purchased by Blair in 1867. The estate was purchased by the Presbyterian Synod of New Jersey for use as an old-age home. Warren County purchased the site in 1970, which is now used for the Warren County Library and other county offices.