Blair, John (2)

Blair, John, a native of Edinburgh, and relative of Hugh Blair (q.v.). He removed at an early age to London, where he received some valuable preferments, and became at last prebendary of Westminster. He died in 1782. He is the author of an important work on The Chronology and History of the World from the Creation to A.D. 1753 (Lond. 1754, fol.), which has passed through a large number of editions (a recent ed. Lond. 1844, with additions and corrections by Sir H. Ellis; again, Lond. 1851), and is still considered a very valuable book. He also wrote Lectures on the Canon cf the Old Testament, published after his death (Lond. 1785), and comprehending a learned dissertation on the Septuagint version.--Allibone, Dict. of Authors, i, 202.