62 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
No. XXVITI.
SIR JAMES HUNTER BLAIR, BART.,
LATE LORD PROVOST OF EDINBURGH,
Is here represented in his robes, and holding a plan of the South Bridge
in his hand. From Kay’s own authority we learn, that “he etched this Print
by express commission, for which he received a guinea for the first impression
and at the rate of half-a-guinea for another dozen.”
Sir James was the second son of Mr. John Hunter, merchant in Ayr, and
was born in that town on the 21st day of February 1741. His father acquired
considerable property in land and money, and left his children, who were still
young at his death, in easy circumstances. In the year 1756, Sir James was
placed as an apprentice in the house of the brothers Coutts, bankers in Edinburgh.
It was at this time that his friendship commenced with Sir William Forbes, who
was then a fellow-clerk in the Bank. Sir William, in a letter written after the
death of Sir James, observes, “Our friendship terminated only with his life,
after an intimacy which few brothers can boast of, during thirty-one years, in
which long period we never had a difference, nor a separation of interest.’’
After the death of Mr. John Coutts, the principal partner of the house, Sir
William and Mr. Hunter were admitted to a share of the business in 1763,’ and
gradually rose to the head of the copartnery.
In December 1770, he married Jane, eldest daughter of John Blair, Esq. of
Dunskey, in the county of Wigton. This lady’s father, at his death, left no
fewer than six sons, four of whom were alive at the time of their sister’s
marriage, but all having died, she succeeded, in 1777, to the family estate. Sir
James on this occasion assumed the name of Elair, and was afterwards, in the
year 1786, created a Baronet of Great Britain.
On the estate which had thus unexpectedly devolved to him he commenced
a plan of most extensive and judicious improvements. He nearly rebuilt the
town of Portpatrick ; he repaired and greatly improved the harbour ; established
packet-boats of a larger size on the much-frequented passage to Donaghadee
in Ireland ; and lastly, while the farmers in that part of Scotland were not
very well acquainted with the most approved modes of farming, he set before
them a successful example of the best modes of a,giculture, perhaps the greatest
service to his country which can be performed by a man in private life.
In September 1781, he was called, without any solicitation on his part, to
represent the city of Edinburgh in Parliament ; and at the general election in
summer 1784, he received the same honour; but before the end of the first
About this time Sir James fimt became a member of the Town-Council.
