Texas Legislators: Past & Present

Wells Thompson

Full Name: Wells Thompson
Birth date: December 12, 1837
Death date: January 17, 1914

Terms of Service

Senate, 15th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ Legislature
4/18/1876 - 1/14/1879
Democrat
Senate President Pro Tempore, elected 4/19/1876, Regular Session.

(1) Thompson, elected president pro tempore 4/19/1876, presided as President of the Senate when Hubbard retired from those duties 8/9/1876. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004 2005.
(2) 15th Legislature - All Senators except District 7 listed in roll call as Senators elect, oath of office administered, 4/18/1876, p. 1; Drawing of Senatorial Terms, 4/27/1876, p. 98, drew "short term" (two years). Senate Journal . April 18, 1876
April 27, 1876
(3) Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, Report, 1/31/1873, Investigation into contested election between Wells Thompson and R.P. Tendick for senator, 25th senatorial district. Senate Journal .

Biographical Notes and Resources

Photographs

Photograph. W. Thompson, State Preservation Board

Other Resources

Biographical sketch, p. 825. Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas, Containing Biographical Sketches of the Representative Public, and Many Early Settled Families 1889.
Biographical sketch in "State Senators Elect: Personal Sketches Completed - Seventeen Lawyers, Seven Grangers, Two Doctors, One Editor and Four Colored Politicians - the Political Structure of the New Senate of Texas," 3/3/1876, p. 2. Galveston Daily News .
THOMPSON, WELLS (1837-1914). Handbook of Texas Online .
Biographical sketch, Wells Thompson. "In 1869 he was elected lieutenant governor, but the military interfered with the election, and in consequence he was counted out. In 1871 he was elected to the State senate, but with no better success, begin again counted out by the Republicans. In 1876 he was again elected to the State senate, took his seat in that body without hindrance and was chosen its president." Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas, 1880, New York, pp. 166-167. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries) .
Biographical sketch, pp. 44-47. Democrat, Candidate for lieutenant governorship and "it is believed was elected, though counted out by Gen. Reynolds...". Ran "in 1870 for an unexpired term in the State Senate. He was counted out by a Radical combination, and in 1873 he made a contest before the Senate..." Sketches of Legislators and State Officers, Fifteenth Legislature, 1876-1878 1876.
Delegate to Constitutional Convention, 1866. Journal of the Texas State Convention: Assembled at Austin, Feb. 7, 1866. Adjourned April 2, 1866, pp. 3-5. Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin) 2009.