Henry Taylor Blow

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Henry Taylor Blow
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1867
Preceded by	James S. Rollins
Succeeded by	Carman A. Newcomb
Born	July 15, 1817 Southampton County, Virginia, USA
Died	September 11, 1875 Saratoga, New York, USA
Political party	Unconditional Unionist, Republican
Spouse	Minerva Grimsley Blow
Profession	Politician, Businessman

Henry Taylor Blow (July 15, 1817 – September 11, 1875) was a U.S. Representative and Ambassador from Missouri.

Born in Southampton County, Virginia to Captain Peter and Elizabeth (Taylor) Blow, owners of the famous slave Dred Scott, Blow moved with his parents to Huntsville, Alabama, where his father unsuccessfully tried farming. In 1830 the family moved again to St. Louis, Missouri, where Peter Blow died two years later. Taylor Blow attended Saint Louis University in 1830 and 1831. He was then forced to drop out and engaged in the paint and oil business and later in lead mines in which he made his wealth. He married Minerva Grimsley (1821–1870), the daughter of Colonel Thornton and Susan Stark Grimsley. They had six children, one of whom was Susan Elizabeth Blow, a noted educator of the nineteenth century.

Blow was a member of the Missouri Senate from 1854 to 1858. He was strictly against the Dred Scott Decision in 1857, siding with his family's former slave, Dred Scott. A Union supporter in the American Civil War, Blow was appointed Minister to Venezuela by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861, serving until 1862. On his return, he was elected an Unconditional Unionist to the United States House of Representatives and was reelected as a Republican, serving from 1863 to 1867. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1866.

Blow resumed his former business pursuits and in 1869 was appointed Minister to Brazil by President Ulysses S. Grant, serving until 1870. He was an original member of the Washington, D.C Board of Commissioners, serving from 1874 to 1875.

Blow died at the age of 58 in Saratoga, New York on September 11, 1875. He was interned in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

[edit] External links

• Henry Taylor Blow at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Henry Taylor Blow at Find A Grave
• Henry Taylor Blow at Famous Missourians

Political offices
Preceded by James S. Rollins	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1863– March 3, 1867	Succeeded by Carman A. Newcomb
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Edward A. Turpin	United States Minister to Venezuela June 8, 1861–February 22, 1862	Succeeded by Erastus D. Culver
Preceded by James W. Webb	United States Minister to Brazil 28 August 1869–6 November 1870	Succeeded by James R. Partridge