HOUSE, 7th General Assembly, 1807-09; representing Montgomery and Stewart counties. Born in Bertie County, NC; sources agree birth date was Apr. 18, but some place the year 1767 and others 1768; son of Jacob and Hannah (Salter) Baker Blount. Little is known of early life, though some sources state he attended King's College, later Columbia University, New York City, and the College of New Jersey, later Princeton University. Married, date not found, to Lucinda Baker, daughter of John and Ann (Norfleet) Baker; two daughters – Eliza Ann and Lucinda. Came to Tennessee country in 1790; settled in Montgomery County to practice law and engage in farming. Served as private secretary to his half-brother, William Blount, Governor of Southwest Territory, 1790-1796; elected by legislature, 1796, as one of judges of the Superior Court of Law and Equity; resigned same year; elected Governor 1809 and reelected 1811 and 1813; inaugurated Sept. 20, 1809 and served to Sept. 27, 1815; unsuccessful candidate for Governor 1827; member Tennessee Constitutional Convention of 1834. Trustee of Blount College, Knoxville, Knox County, of Cumberland College, Nashville, Davidson County, and of Rural Academy, Clarksville, Montgomery County, 1806. Died at home of Wylie Johnson near Nashville Sept. 10, 1835; buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville.

Sources: Dictionary of American Biography, II, 391; White, Messages of the Governors of Tennessee, I, 274-75; Tennessee Reports, Vol. 176, p. 864; Green, Lives of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, 23; Moore and Foster, Tennessee, the Volunteer State, II, 36; Wheeler, Reminiscences of North Carolina, 32, 130; Montgomery County Tombstone Records, 67; Beach, Along the Warioto, 158.
 

Biographies submitted by Jill Hastings-Johnson, Montgomery County Archivist