Gen. James Blair, a native of the Waxhaws of Lancaster District, was one of the most intriguing figures in South Carolina during the early 1800s.

James Blair, born about 1790, was the son of William and Sarah Douglas Blair. William Blair came to America from Ireland when he was 13 years old. An ardent Whig, the senior Blair was a Revolutionary War soldier who personally abhorred the notion of receiving a pension for fighting for independence. Young James Blair grew up in a Scotch-Irish family and community which prided itself on its sturdy independence.

James Blair's physical size alone was enough to impress any frontiersman. He was six feet six or seven and weight about 350 pounds, all in perfect proportion.

Writers attempting to describe the colorful figure were likely to such expressions as "one of nature's noblemen," or "magnificent giant." At the same time, there was a darker side to Blair. The biographer's high praise was quicly followed with such phrases as "hot-spur temperament," "indulged in excess," and "both loved and feared."

Blair early joined the Waxhaw militia. The muster, in those days, was more than drilling and practicing with weapons. Militia drills were punctuated with all sorts of shows of strength--wrestling, boxing, foot- racing, even eye-gouging. Tales of James Blair's size and strength were told afar.

One story that has come down to us tells of the North Carolina champion wrestler coming to the Waxhaws in search of Blair. The "Waxhaw Giant" was found in the fields plowing. The North Carolina man, eager for a match, proposed a set-to on the spot. Blair unhitched his mule and took on the stranger. The North Carolinian was soon tossed over the fence in such bad condition that he had to stay in the Blair home several days in order to recover enough to travel.

Such exploits made it easy for Blair to be elected to office. He never lost an election. While still in his early twenties, Blair was sheriff of Lancaster District. At the age of 28 he was elected general of the Eighth Brigade of state militia. He did not wear a uniform but wore instead a "rich blue-cloth suit, ruffled shirt and gold-headed cane...." In 1821, James Blair was elected to Congress. After 18 months he resigned for reasons never explained except that Blair called them "private concerns."

Blair came back to his plantation on the Lynches River in Kershaw District. His days were occupied with the hunt and his evenings with study. A very tall Catawba Indian--taller even than Blair--known as "Chunky Bone," was Blair's most constant companion, other than his wife and son.

Blair was involved in a number of brawls and duels. The most famous incident has been told in several versions. Dr. J. Marion Sims' version was that the editor of the Camden newspaper, Thomas Evans, offended Blair who, drunk, rode his horse into the house over Mrs. Evans and the baby's cradle. Evans reluctantly accepted Blair's challenge to a duel. The two men met in Augusta, Ga., a favorite dueling spot of the time. Evans' arm was shattered and he was left crippled.

Col. James Hammond, later South Carolina governor and senator, was challenged by Blair. Influential Lancaster men interceded and arranged apologies.

Blair had resigned from Congress in 1822; in 1829 he ran again and won handily.

In March 1834, Washington society was shocked at Blair's behavior at the thater. Upset with the performance, Blair shot at one of the actors on the stage. A physician testified in court that Blair was under the influence of brandy and morphine, which was used to alleviate the pain of rheumatism. The court fined Blair only five dollars. A month later, in a fit of depression, Blair placed the pistol to his head and committed suicide. His "native genius" was never quite fulfilled.