Named for James G Blaine (1830-1893), an American Statesman.
Established 5 March 1885.
James
G. Blaine's
Scrapbook on the Internet
A history in
pictures of Blaine County, Nebraska's namesake
Taken from Nebraska in
the Making by Mike Parks
Published by the World Publishing Company
Omaha, Nebraska
Copyright 1966
Blaine, James Gillespie |
Politician (1830-1893) |
After graduating from Washington College in 1847, he studied law, taught school and edited a newspaper before entering the world of politics. A lifelong Republican, he served two terms in the Maine state legislature (1859-1863), then seven terms in the House of Representatives (1863-1876), the last four as speaker of the House. He was intelligent and well-informed, a dynamic speaker, a relentless campaigner and a skillful behind-the-scenes negotiator: in short, a consummate politician. |
James G. Blaine, "The Plumed
Knight" |
He was the early frontrunner for the Republican
presidential nomination in 1876, but revelations of influence-peddling
damaged his reputation. Instead, he ran successfully for the Senate,
where he served from 1877-1881. In 1884, he won the Republican
presidential nomination but lost the general election by a slim margin.
Nonetheless, he remained a powerful leader of the national Republican
party. He served two tenures as secretary of state in the Garfield
(1881-1883) and Harrison (1889-1893) administrations. In that role, he
sought to extend U.S. political and economic influence in Latin America
under the slogan "Pan-Americanism." |
James Gillespie Blaine, the
"Plumed Knight" (1830-189)
The above biography, including the Thomas Nast's 1880 cartoon, and the
photograph of
James Gillespie Blaine,
were developed in
connection the University of Wisconsin, Madison, History Department,
Stanley K. Schultz, Professor of History, and William P. Tishler, Producer,
in conjunction with American
History 102.,"Civil War to the Present."
More great American History can be viewed at their above linked website.
Blaine NEGenWeb - Patricia C. Ash - 2002
Updated 2020 By David Gochenour