Alexander Blair (rugby union)

Alexander Blair was a Scottish rugby union player. He was the 36th President of the Scottish Rugby Union. He became a Colonel in the army and then became President of the British Legion and Chairman of the Earl Haig Fund. An advocate to trade he was a Writer to the Signet. He received a CBE in the New Years Honours List of 1933.[1]

Alexander Blair

Birth name	Alexander Stevenson Blair
Date of birth	3 June 1865
Place of birth	Edinburgh, Scotland
Date of death	10 September 1936 (aged 60)
Place of death	Edinburgh, Scotland
School	Loretto School
University	Brasenose College, Oxford
Rugby union career
Position(s) Three Quarters Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Oxford University ()
36th President of the Scottish Rugby Union
In office 1909–1910
Preceded by	David Cassels
Succeeded by	Charles Fleming

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

After attending Loretto School,[2] Blair went to Brasenose College in Oxford.[3] He played for Oxford University,[4] and was in the 1st XV.[5] He was secretary of both the rugby and athletics club of the university.[6]

Administrative career

He was Secretary of the Scottish Rugby Union for 4 years from 1886.[7]

Blair was on the International Rugby Board in 1889.[8]

He became the 36th President of the Scottish Rugby Union. He served one year from 1909 to 1910.[9]

Military career

First as Lieutenant Colonel, then Colonel, Blair commanded the 'Dandy Ninth', the Lothian Regiment of the Royal Scots, in the First World War.[10] In 1916 he was awarded a CMG.[11]

After the war he joined the British Legion where he became treasurer in Scotland.

Law career

Blair's firm, Strathearn and Blair, acted as solicitors for the Scottish Rugby Union.[12] Blair was a Writer to the Signet.[13]

Death

He is buried in Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh.[14]

References

1. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000577/19360911/088/0008
2. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/18841211/041/0004
3. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/18841022/092/0004
4. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/18841113/069/0004
5. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/18851026/078/0004
6. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000577/19360911/088/0008
7. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000577/19360911/088/0008
8. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/18890302/087/0007
9. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/sru-files/files/SR_RR1819_digital.pdf
10. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C677089
11. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000577/19360911/088/0008
12. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19250120/020/0003
13. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000577/19360911/088/0008
14. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/150274424/alexander-stevenson-blair