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{{short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{Other people|James Blair}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=James Blair
|honorific_suffix=
|birth_date={{birth date|df=y|1828|1|27}}
|death_date={{death date and age|df=y|1905|1|18|1828|1|27}})
|birth_place= [[Neemuch]], [[British India]]
|death_place=[[Melrose, Scotland|Melrose, Scottish Borders]]
|placeofburial=Trinity Churchyard, Melrose
|image=James Blair VC IWM Q 80473.jpg
|image_size=250
|caption=
|nickname=
|allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}}
|serviceyears=
|rank=[[General]]
|branch=
{{plainlist|
*[[Bengal Army]]
*[[File:British Raj Red Ensign.svg|23px]] [[British Indian Army]]
}}
|commands=
|unit=
|battles=[[Indian Mutiny]]
|awards=
{{plainlist|
*[[Victoria Cross]]
*[[Order of the Bath]]
}}
|laterwork=British [[Resident (title)|Resident]] in [[Aden]]
|relations=[[Robert Blair (VC)|Robert Blair]] VC (cousin)
}}
General '''James Blair''' (27 January 1828 – 18 January 1905) was a [[Scotland|Scottish]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]] (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of British and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.

Blair was born in [[Neemuch]], [[Gwalior State]] in [[British Raj|India]],<ref name=grave/> the son of a captain in the Bengal Cavalry. He was commissioned into the [[13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers|2nd Bombay Light Cavalry]], [[Bombay Army]] in 1844, becoming a Lieutenant in 1848.<ref name=ANG>{{Cite news |date=31 January 1905 |title=Obituary: Gen James Blair, VC, CB |page=66 |work=The Army and Navy Gazette}}</ref>

He was 29 years old, and a [[Captain (land and air)|captain]] in the 2nd Bombay Light Cavalry during the [[Indian Mutiny]] when the following deeds took place for which he was awarded the VC.
{{quote|For having on two occasions distinguished himself by his gallant and daring conduct.

1. On the night of the 12th of August, 1857, at [[Neemuch]], in volunteering to apprehend 7 or 8 armed mutineers who had shut themselves up for defence in a house, the door of which he burst open. He then rushed in among them and forced them to escape through the roof; in this encounter, he was severely wounded. In spite of his wounds he pursued the fugitives, but was unable to come up with them, in consequence of the darkness of the night.

2. On the 23rd of October, 1857, at Jeerum, in fighting his way most gallantly through a Body of rebels who had literally surrounded him. After breaking the end of his sword on one of their heads, and receiving a severe sword cut on his fight arm, he rejoined his troop. In this wounded condition, and with no other weapon than the hilt of his broken sword, he put himself at the head of his men, charged the rebels most effectually, and dispersed them.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22601|page=956|date=25 February 1862}}</ref>}}

Blair served until the end of the Indian Mutiny, mainly in [[Central Indian campaign of 1858|Central India]], including the pursuit of [[Tatya Tope]].<ref name=ANG/>

Continuing to serve in the Indian Army, Blair acted as Political Resident at [[Aden]] between 1882–85 with the rank of brigadier-general. He was promoted major-general 1885, and in 1889 became a lieutenant-general and was appointed a companion of the [[Order of the Bath]].<ref name=ANG/> He was placed on the unemployed supernumerary list in 1890.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26072|page=4046|date=22 July 1890}}</ref> In retirement he was promoted general in 1894 and appointed [[Colonel#Colonel_of_the_Regiment|colonel]] of the [[13th_Lancers#32|32nd Lancers]] in 1904.<ref name=ANG/>

Blair died at his home in [[Melrose, Scottish Borders|Melrose]] [[Roxburghshire]] in January 1905, age of 76<ref name=ANG/> and was buried at Trinity Churchyard, Melrose.<ref name=grave>{{cite web|url=http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/scoroxbu.htm |title=Grave locations for holders of the Victoria Cross in: Scotland. Archived copy |website=VConline.org.uk |accessdate=22 December 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041028142235/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/scotland.htm |archivedate=28 October 2004}}</ref>

He was the cousin of Captain [[Robert Blair (VC)|Robert Blair]], who also won the VC in the Indian Mutiny.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vconline.org.uk/kenneth-muir-vc/4587687985 |title=Robert Blair VC: biography. Archived copy |website=VConline.org.uk |accessdate=22 December 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919152034/http://www.vconline.org.uk/robert-blair-vc/4585979590 |archivedate=19 September 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041028142235/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/scotland.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Border, Scotland)''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blair, James}}
[[Category:1828 births]]
[[Category:1905 deaths]]
[[Category:British recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British Indian Army generals]]
[[Category:British East India Company Army officers]]
[[Category:People from Neemuch]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:British colonial governors and administrators in Asia]]
[[Category:Military personnel of British India]]

James Blair (Indian Army officer) - Revision history

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