James Gillespie Blaine was born in West Brownsville, Pennsylvania on January 31, 1880. Blaine was an influential Republican politician who served as Speaker of the House (1869-1875) and as Secretary of State (1881 & 1889-1892). He unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for President in 1876. Blaine died in Washington, D.C. on January 27, 1893.