D. D. Blair James, an American clergyman and teacher, born in Scotland in 1656, died in Virginia, Aug. 8, 1743. He was educated in one of the Scottish universities, took orders in the Episcopal church in Scotland, removed to England in the latter part of the reign of Charles II., and in 1685 was sent by Dr. Comp-ton, bishop of London, as missionary to Virginia. In 1689 he was appointed ecclesiastical commissary, the highest ecclesiastical officer in the province. Here he devoted his energies to the founding of a college, and having obtained the approval of the colonial government crossed the ocean to ask for help in England and secure a charter. This was granted in 1692, and Dr. Blair was made first president of William and Mary college. Through his energy the new institution survived various trials and discouragements, especially the destruction by fire of the college building in 1705. He was for some time president of the council of the colony and rector of Williamsburg. In 1722 he published "Our Saviour's Divine Sermon on the Mount explained and recommended in divers Sermons and Discourses" (4 vols. 8vo). These discourses were afterward republished with a commendatory preface by Dr. Waterland (1740).