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W.R. Shannon

William Russell Shannon

Full Name: William Russell Shannon
Date of birth: January 15, 1825
Date of death: June 17, 1910

Terms of Service

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
S 20 Jan 9, 1883 - Jan 11, 1887 19th (1) (2)   18th (3) (4)   Democrat Weatherford / Parker Senate President Pro Tempore (19th)   Jack, Parker, Tarrant, Wise
S 23 Jan 14, 1879 - Jan 9, 1883 17th (5) (6)   16th (7) (8)   Democrat Weatherford / Parker   Clay, Jack, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, Wise, Young
S 20 Aug 6, 1866 - Feb 7, 1870 11th (9) (10) (11)     Buchanan / Johnson   Erath, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Tarrant
H 42 May 4, 1864 - Aug 6, 1866 10th (12)     Cleburne / Johnson   Ellis, Johnson, Parker
H 44 Nov 7, 1859 - Nov 4, 1861 8th     Buchanan / Johnson   Ellis, Tarrant
H 44 Nov 2, 1857 - Nov 7, 1859 7th (13) (14)     Buchanan / Johnson   Ellis, Tarrant

Terms of service footnotes


(1) 19th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, elected 1/13/1885, Regular Session. Senate Journal.
(2) Democrat, p. 163. Burke's Texas Almanac and Immigrants' Handbook for 1885, 1885.
(3) Democrat. Pocket Directory of the Eighteenth Legislature of Texas, 1883.
(4) 18th Legislature, Regular Session - All Senators except District 3 and 21 are listed in Roll Call as taking the oath of office, 1/9/1883, p. 2; resolution by Sen. Gooch that the Senators shall now be divided by lot into two classes, 1/10/1883, pp. 5-6; drew term of 4 years. Senate Journal. January 10, 1883 January 9, 1883
(5) Democrat, 11/17/1880, p. 2. Galveston Daily News.
(6) Democrat. Pocket Directory of the Seventeenth Legislature of Texas, 1881.
(7) Democrat, 1/14/1879, p. 1. Galveston Daily News.
(8) 16th Legislature, Regular Session - Roll call of newly elected Senators, oath of office administered, 1/14/1879, p. 3. Senate Journal.
(9) 11th Legislature - All 33 Senate districts listed in roll call presenting credentials, oath of office administered, 8/6/1866, pp. 2, 4-5. Senate Journal.
(10) Constitution of 1866, Article III, §§ 29, 30, retained the apportionment of 1860 for Senatorial districts. Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin), 2009.
(11) Entire Senate went up for reelection - Constitution of 1869, Article III, § 39. Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin), 2009.
(12) William R. Shannon, in special election 5/4/1864, succeeded John H. Prince, died 4/18/1864. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(13) Members of the Seventh Legislature, Biographical Notes - Members, April 1937 issue. Southern Historical Research Magazine, 1937.
(14) Democrat. Roster of 7th Legislature, "Texas Legislature Complete for 1857-8," Civilian and Gazette. Weekly. (Galveston, Texas), 9/8/1857, p. 2, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Terms of Service

Legislatures:
19th (1) (2)   18th (3) (4)  
Leadership role:
Senate President Pro Tempore (19th)
(18th)
Party:
Democrat
Home City/County:
Weatherford / Parker
Counties in district:
Jack, Parker, Tarrant, Wise

Legislatures:
17th (5) (6)   16th (7) (8)  
Party:
Democrat
Home City/County:
Weatherford / Parker
Counties in district:
Clay, Jack, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, Wise, Young

Legislatures:
11th (9) (10) (11)  
Party:
Democrat
Home City/County:
Buchanan / Johnson
Counties in district:
Erath, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Tarrant

Legislatures:
10th (12)  
Party:
Democrat
Home City/County:
Cleburne / Johnson
Counties in district:
Ellis, Johnson, Parker

Legislatures:
8th  
Party:
Democrat
Home City/County:
Buchanan / Johnson
Counties in district:
Ellis, Tarrant

Legislatures:
7th (13) (14)  
Party:
Democrat
Home City/County:
Buchanan / Johnson
Counties in district:
Ellis, Tarrant

Terms of service notes


(1) 19th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, elected 1/13/1885, Regular Session. Senate Journal.
(2) Democrat, p. 163. Burke's Texas Almanac and Immigrants' Handbook for 1885, 1885.
(3) Democrat. Pocket Directory of the Eighteenth Legislature of Texas, 1883.
(4) 18th Legislature, Regular Session - All Senators except District 3 and 21 are listed in Roll Call as taking the oath of office, 1/9/1883, p. 2; resolution by Sen. Gooch that the Senators shall now be divided by lot into two classes, 1/10/1883, pp. 5-6; drew term of 4 years. Senate Journal. January 10, 1883 January 9, 1883
(5) Democrat, 11/17/1880, p. 2. Galveston Daily News.
(6) Democrat. Pocket Directory of the Seventeenth Legislature of Texas, 1881.
(7) Democrat, 1/14/1879, p. 1. Galveston Daily News.
(8) 16th Legislature, Regular Session - Roll call of newly elected Senators, oath of office administered, 1/14/1879, p. 3. Senate Journal.
(9) 11th Legislature - All 33 Senate districts listed in roll call presenting credentials, oath of office administered, 8/6/1866, pp. 2, 4-5. Senate Journal.
(10) Constitution of 1866, Article III, §§ 29, 30, retained the apportionment of 1860 for Senatorial districts. Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin), 2009.
(11) Entire Senate went up for reelection - Constitution of 1869, Article III, § 39. Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin), 2009.
(12) William R. Shannon, in special election 5/4/1864, succeeded John H. Prince, died 4/18/1864. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(13) Members of the Seventh Legislature, Biographical Notes - Members, April 1937 issue. Southern Historical Research Magazine, 1937.
(14) Democrat. Roster of 7th Legislature, "Texas Legislature Complete for 1857-8," Civilian and Gazette. Weekly. (Galveston, Texas), 9/8/1857, p. 2, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Biographical Information

  • Member roster, 11th Legislature, Regular Session: W.R. Shannon, Buchanan, Johnson County, nativity Kentucky, lawyer, age 40 in 1866 (born circa 1826). Senate Journal.

  • Volunteer, Mexican War. Confederate States Army, Captain, 10th Texas Infantry, and Captain, Rock Creek Guards, eventually absorbed into Parson's Brigade. Handbook of Texas Online.

  • Photograph. W.R. Shannon, 19th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. W.R. Shannon, 18th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. W.R. Shannon, 17th Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. W.R. Shannon, 11th Legislature, By the Austin Photograph Co., Prints and Photographs Collection, [identifier number: di_03923, di_03924], The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin
  • Photograph. Wm. R. Shannon, 8th Legislature, Texas State Library and Archives Commission
  • Photograph. Wm. R. Shannon, 8th Legislature, Texas Album of the Eighth Legislature

Committee Information

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