Benjamin Franklin Tankersley

Full Name: Benjamin Franklin Tankersley
Other surnames: Tankersly
Date of birth: July 15, 1813
Date of death: January 1, 1859

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
S 18 Jan 20, 1858 - Jan 1, 1859 7th (1) (2)     Houston / Harris   Harris
H 33 Nov 3, 1851 - Nov 7, 1853 4th     Houston / Harris   Harris
H Harris Dec 13, 1847 - Nov 5, 1849 2nd     Houston / Harris   Harris
H Harris Feb 16, 1846 - Dec 13, 1847 1st (3)     Houston / Harris   Harris

(1) "In Harris County ex Gov. H.G. Runnels, A.P. Thompson and B.F. Tankersly are candidates for the Senate . . . All are Democratic, we believe, save Mr. Tankersly." 6/23/1857, p. 2. Civilian and Gazette (Galveston, Texas).
(2) Benjamin F. Tankersly, sworn 1/20/1858, succeeded Hiram G. Runnels, who did not appear and died on 12/17/1857. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(3) Democrat. Table of members of the 1st Legislature, The Texas Democrat (Austin, Texas), 5/20/1846, p. 3, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Terms of Service top

Senate District 18
Jan 20, 1858 - Jan 1, 1859
Legislatures: 7th (1) (2)  
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris
House District 33
Nov 3, 1851 - Nov 7, 1853
Legislatures: 4th  
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris
House District Harris
Dec 13, 1847 - Nov 5, 1849
Legislatures: 2nd  
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris
House District Harris
Feb 16, 1846 - Dec 13, 1847
Legislatures: 1st (3)  
Home City/County: Houston / Harris
Counties in district: Harris

(1) "In Harris County ex Gov. H.G. Runnels, A.P. Thompson and B.F. Tankersly are candidates for the Senate . . . All are Democratic, we believe, save Mr. Tankersly." 6/23/1857, p. 2. Civilian and Gazette (Galveston, Texas).
(2) Benjamin F. Tankersly, sworn 1/20/1858, succeeded Hiram G. Runnels, who did not appear and died on 12/17/1857. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(3) Democrat. Table of members of the 1st Legislature, The Texas Democrat (Austin, Texas), 5/20/1846, p. 3, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Biographical Information top

Resolutions and Journal entries

  • Memorial resolution, 8th Legislature, 11/15/1859, p. 55. Benjamin Tankersley, Senator from Harris County, died since the adjournment of the last Legislature. Senate Journal.

Biographical Sketches

  • Benjamin Franklin Tankersley, born 7/15/1813 in Port Royal, Caroline County, Virginia, died 1/1/1859 in Harris County, Texas. Son Marshall Tankersley born January 1855. Tankersley Family Tree. Ancestry.com.

Other Resources

  • Census of 1850 - B.F. Tankersley, Houston, Harris County, age 36, born circa 1814 in Virginia, lawyer. FamilySearch.
  • Death notice, 3/22/1913, p. 12. Relatives: father: B.F. Tankersley, son Marshall Tankersley. Houston Post.
  • Mentioned as early Houston lawyer, p. 80. Young, Samuel Oliver. A Thumb-Nail History of the City of Houston, Texas, From Its Founding in 1836 to the Year 1912, 1912. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Committee Information top

4th R.S. - 1851
Enrolled Bills (Chair) 
Judiciary  
2nd R.S. - 1847
Comptroller of Public Accounts and Treasurer of the State (Co-Chair) 
Finance  
Judiciary  
New Mexico Territory East of the Rio Grande  
Rules  
1st R.S. - 1846
Finance (Chair) 
Judiciary  
Rules  

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