Legislator; born in
Macon, Ga., Sept. 12. 1837.
He was elected to Congress as a Democrat in 1872, and held his seat till 1893, when he declined a renomination.
At the conclusion of his last term the
House suspended its proceedings that his associates might formally testify their appreciation of his worth.
In his last term he was chairman of the committee on foreign affairs, a post that gave him a wide knowledge of American relations with other countries.
In March, 1893,
President Cleveland appointed him a special commissioner to visit
Honolulu and report on the conditions which led to the overthrow of the kingdom
[
371]
of
Hawaii and the establishment of an American protectorate over the islands.
The first result of his investigations was an order to remove the
American flag from the government house, and for the withdrawal of American marines from
Honolulu.
These actions created much excitement in the
United States, and led to the resignation of
Minister Stevens, the appointment of
Mr. Blount to succeed him, and to a renewed agitation for the annexation of
Hawaii, both in
Washington and in Honololu.
When his mission was accomplished,
Minister Blount returned to his home and resumed the practice of law. See
Hawaiian Islands.