Editing William Alexander Blount, Sr.
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{{Infobox Biography | {{Infobox Biography | ||
| subject_name =William Alexander Blount, Sr. | | subject_name =William Alexander Blount, Sr. | ||
− | | image_name = | + | | image_name =WABlountSr.jpg |
− | | image_size = | + | | image_size =288px |
| image_caption = | | image_caption = | ||
− | | date_of_birth = | + | | date_of_birth =October 25, 1851 |
| place_of_birth =Clarke County, AL | | place_of_birth =Clarke County, AL | ||
− | | date_of_death = | + | | date_of_death =June 15, 1921 |
| place_of_death =Baltimore, MD | | place_of_death =Baltimore, MD | ||
− | | occupation = | + | | occupation =lawyer, politician |
− | | religion = | + | | religion =Episcopalian |
− | | spouse = | + | | spouse =Cora Nellie Moreno Blount |
− | | parents = | + | | parents =Alexander Clement & Julia Elizabeth Washington Blount |
− | | children = | + | | children =William A. Blount, Jr.<br/>Fernando Moreno Blount<br/>Hilda Marguerite<br/>Frederick Jules Blount<br/>Miriam Valerye Blount<br/>Cora Blount |
}} | }} | ||
'''William Alexander Blount, Sr.''' ([[1851]]-[[1921]]) was a prominent lawyer, businessman and civic leader in Pensacola during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. | '''William Alexander Blount, Sr.''' ([[1851]]-[[1921]]) was a prominent lawyer, businessman and civic leader in Pensacola during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. | ||
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==Law Practice== | ==Law Practice== | ||
− | Blount initially practiced law in Pensacola with [[Charles W. Jones]], but with his background in corporate law, combined with his father's connections and influence, William soon attracted an impressive clientèle of his own. Some of his clients included the [[Pensacola Street Car Company]] and [[Daniel F. Sullivan]], who purchased the [[Pensacola & Louisville Railroad]] and transferred majority control to the [[Louisville & Nashville Railroad]] under Blount's legal counsel on [[February 27]], [[1880]]. This transaction would lead to the creation of the [[Pensacola & Atlantic Railroad]], which received a charter of incorporation on [[March 21]], [[1881]], opening new | + | Blount initially practiced law in Pensacola with [[Charles W. Jones]], but with his background in corporate law, combined with his father's connections and influence, William soon attracted an impressive clientèle of his own. Some of his clients included the [[Pensacola Street Car Company]] and [[Daniel F. Sullivan]], who purchased the [[Pensacola & Louisville Railroad]] and transferred majority control to the [[Louisville & Nashville Railroad]] under Blount's legal counsel on [[February 27]], [[1880]]. This transaction would lead to the creation of the [[Pensacola & Atlantic Railroad]], which received a charter of incorporation on [[March 21]], [[1881]], opening new western railway routes for Pensacola.<ref>[http://stmichaelscemetery.org/bios/WABlount.htm William Alexander Blount] - St. Michael's Cemetery Foundation essay</ref> |
− | Blount's brother, [[Alexander Clement Blount, Jr.]], joined the law practice in [[1883]], forming '''Blount & Blount'''. He served as [[Pensacola City Attorney|City Attorney]] for several years during this time. In [[1907]], the firm welcomed former Florida Supreme Court Judge [[Francis B. Carter]], becoming '''Blount & Blount & Carter'''. Later partners included [[J.E.D. Yonge]], [[E. Dixie Beggs, Sr.]] and [[Bert Lane]]. When the list of partners became unwieldy, the firm was renamed '''[[Beggs & Lane]]''' in | + | Blount's brother, [[Alexander Clement Blount, Jr.]], joined the law practice in [[1883]], forming '''Blount & Blount'''. He served as [[Pensacola City Attorney|City Attorney]] for several years during this time. In [[1907]], the firm welcomed former Florida Supreme Court Judge [[Francis B. Carter]], becoming '''Blount & Blount & Carter'''. Later partners included [[J.E.D. Yonge]], [[E. Dixie Beggs, Sr.]] and [[Bert Lane]]. When the list of partners became unwieldy, the firm was renamed '''[[Beggs & Lane]]''' in ''(date needed)'' and is the oldest continuous law practice in Florida. |
==Real Estate== | ==Real Estate== | ||
− | In [[1894]], Blount purchased lots 257 & 258 on block #29 of the [[Old City Tract]] (later known as the [[Brent Block]]) from [[Thomas Watson]], including a three-story building at the corner of [[Garden Street|Garden]] and [[Palafox Street]]s that | + | In [[1894]], Blount purchased lots 257 & 258 on block #29 of the [[Old City Tract]] (later known as the [[Brent Block]]) from [[Thomas Watson]], including a three-story building at the corner of [[Garden Street|Garden]] and [[Palafox Street]]s that would be called the [[Blount-Watson Building]].<ref>[[John Appleyard]]. ''The Brent Block,'' p. 7.</ref> After it burned in the early morning of [[November 1]], [[1905]] (called the [[Halloween Night Fire]]), Blount immediately began plans to rebuild on the site, enlisting his son, [[Fernando Moreno Blount]], as the architect. Construction of the new '''[[Blount Building]]''' began in [[1906]], concurrent with the [[Brent Building]] to which it is connected, and was completed in [[1907]]. At seven stories, it was the tallest building in Florida at the time. (This title would also be claimed by the ten-story [[American National Bank Building]] in 1910.) |
− | Blount's architectural legacy is also remembered in his summer home, [[Seamarge]], a thirty-room mansion built in [[1905]] on the western shore | + | Blount's architectural legacy is also remembered in his summer home, [[Seamarge]], a thirty-room mansion built in [[1905]] on the western Bay shore. |
==Political Career & Civil Service== | ==Political Career & Civil Service== | ||
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He was interred at [[St. Michael's Cemetery]] next to his three children whom he outlived.<ref>[http://stmichaelscemetery.org/bios/WABlount.htm William Alexander Blount] - St. Michael's Cemetery Foundation essay</ref> In addition to [[Blount Building|building which bears his name]], [[Blount Street]] is named after him, and the [[J.B. Lockey School]] was renamed [[W.A. Blount Junior High School]] circa 1940 to honor his contributions to education. | He was interred at [[St. Michael's Cemetery]] next to his three children whom he outlived.<ref>[http://stmichaelscemetery.org/bios/WABlount.htm William Alexander Blount] - St. Michael's Cemetery Foundation essay</ref> In addition to [[Blount Building|building which bears his name]], [[Blount Street]] is named after him, and the [[J.B. Lockey School]] was renamed [[W.A. Blount Junior High School]] circa 1940 to honor his contributions to education. | ||
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==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
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<references/> | <references/> | ||
− | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Lawyers]] |
+ | [[Category:People buried in St. Michael's Cemetery]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Pensacola City Attorneys]] |