Francis Preston Blair, Jr., Blair House Collection

This portrait of Francis Preston Blair, Jr. historically hangs in the library of Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is also where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office. Blair, Jr. was the middle son of the Blair family. He chose to live in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was a real estate businessman. During the Civil War he commanded a group of volunteers from St. Louis in fighting for the Union.