Blair Trivia

* There were no Blairs recorded as being part of the first Fleet which arrived in Australia's Botany Bay on 18 January 1788.

 * For over 700 years Blair Castle has been welcoming visitors and is Scotland’s most visited privately owned home. Unfortunately for the Blairs, the Castle is home for the Murray's and bears the name Blair because of its location, Blair Atholl, Perthshire.

 * The word Blair is derived from the Gaelic ‘ Blar’ and properly signifies a plain clear of woods, but since the Celts chose such open plains for welfare, the word comes to signify a field of battle.

 * A Blair ‘Bairn’ is a Blair ‘Baby’

* Eric Blair, a writer is best known by his pen name George Orwell.

* Bonnie Blair, five time Olympic Gold medallist, is the best performed Blair Olympian.

* The most notable Blair currently on the world political scene is undoubtedly  Tony Blair who was elected MP for Sedgefield in 1983, after contesting the Beaconsfield by-election a year before. He was educated at Fettes and Oxford University. From 1984 to 1987 he was spokesman on economic affairs, trade and industry from 1987 to 1988, energy from 1988 to 1989, employment from 1989 to 1992, and home affairs from 1992 to 1994 when he shadowed Michael Howard. In 1994 Blair was elected leader of the Labour Party after the death of John Smith. In May 1997, Tony Blair won a landslide victory in the General Election,becoming the first Labour leader for nearly two decades.

*The recent movie Titanic has sparked a great interest in the luxury liner Titanic. There is a little known Blair connection to this tragic story. David Blair was originally assigned to the Titanic as Second Officer, the fourth highest ranking officer on board. He participated in the ship’s sea trials on 1 April 1912 and in the 470 mile run from Belfast to Southhampton. For some reason, a change of officers was made at Southhampton. William Murdock came on board as Chief Officer under Captain Edward John Smith. This change bumped Chief Officer Charles Lighttoller down to second officer. David Blair was relieved of his post and left the ship on 9 April, the day before it was scheduled to sail. The second office was in charge of the ‘lookouts’ and though David Blair was doubtless thankful that fate had spared him that fateful night, the iceberg might have been spotted in time. If anyone has more information, please share it with us.

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