BLOUNT, James H., American legislator: b. Macon, Ga., 12 Sept. 1837; d. Macon, Ga., 9 March 1903. He was graduated from the Uni versity of Georgia in 1857; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1858. He first came into public notice in 1865, when after having served in the Confederate army, ire was a delegate to the Georgia Constitutional Convention. There after he devoted himself to the practice of law until 1872, when he was elected to Congress from the 6th District of Georgia. He held his seat by successive re-elections till 1893, when he declined a further term. As he finished his last term the House paid him the unusual honor of suspending its proceedings to give the mem bers an opportunity to testify to their apprecia tion of his worth. In his last term he was chairman of the committee on foreign affairs, and his familiarity with American relations with other countries led President Cleveland to ap point him commissioner paramount to Hawaii in March 1893, for the purpose of investigating the deposition of the royal government and the establishment of the American protectorate over the kingdom. On his arrival in Honolulu he at
once caused the American flag to be hauled down from the Provisional Government House, and the United States marines to be withdrawn from the locality. This proceeding led to con siderable excitement in the United States; the withdrawal of United States Minister Stevens from Honolulu; the appointment of Commis sioner Blount as his successor; and a renewal both in Washington and Honolulu of the agita tion for the annexation of Hawaii to the United States. On the completion of his mission Minister Blount retired to his large Georgia es tates. See HAWAII.