J. Elmer Blanchard was a lawyer and political figure on Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...

. He represented 5th Queens

5th Queens

5th Queens was an electoral district in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, which elected two members to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1873 to 1993. The district was also known as Charlottetown Common until 1939....

 in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island

Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island

The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, along with the Lieutenant-Governor, forms the parliament of the province. The General Assembly meets at Province House, which is located at the intersection of Richmond and Great George Streets in Charlottetown....

 from 1966 to 1970 as a Liberal

Prince Edward Island Liberal Party

The Prince Edward Island Liberal Party is a major political party in the province of Prince Edward Island, Canada. The PEI Liberals are aligned with the federal Liberal Party of Canada. The party is led by Robert Ghiz, a former member of the staff of the Prime Minister's Office under Prime Minister...

.

He was born in Charlottetown

Charlottetown

Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...

, the son of J. Henri Blanchard, who was the son of Jeremiah Blanchard

Jeremiah Blanchard

Jérémie "Jeremiah" Blanchard was a farmer and political figure in Prince Edward Island. He represented 1st Prince in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1893 to 1897 as a Conservative and from 1922 to 1931 as a Liberal.He was born in Rustico, Prince Edward Island, the son of...

, and Ursule Gallant. Blanchard was educated at Prince of Wales College

Prince of Wales College

Prince of Wales College is a former university college, which was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. PWC merged with St. Dunstan's University in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island....

 and Saint Dunstan's University

Saint Dunstan's University

St. Dunstan's University is a former university which was located on the northern outskirts of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. SDU merged with Prince of Wales College in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island.St...

. He was called to the bar in 1953. In 1955, he married Jean Aylward. Blanchard was an unsuccessful candidate for a seat in the provincial assembly in 1962. Blanchard was named Queen's Counsel

Queen's Counsel

Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...

in 1966. He served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Labour and Manpower Resources and then Minister of Justice and Attorney General. He died in office while tuna fishing at sea off the east coast of the island.