James Winright Flanagan (September 5, 1805 – September 28, 1887) was an American merchant, lawyer, and farmer from Henderson, Texas. Although never officially inaugurated, he briefly served as the Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1870, before leaving the position to represent Texas in the United States Senate from 1870 to 1875.
Flanagan was born to Charles and Elizabeth (Saunders) Flanagan in Albemarle County near Gordonsville, Virginia. Before his tenth birthday, the family moved to Boonesboro, Kentucky. As a young man he moved to Cloverport, Kentucky, on the Ohio River and became a prosperous merchant. He also read law and was admitted to the Kentucky bar in 1825. He married Polly Moorman in 1826 and the couple had several children before moving to Henderson, Texas, in 1844.
Careeredit
Flanagan established himself in Henderson by opening a store. He bought a farm, speculated in land, and practiced law. Politically, he was a Whig and an active supporter of Sam Houston. He later became a moderate Republican. Flanagan served in the Texas House of Representatives (1851–1852) and the Texas State Senate (1855–1858).
When the Civil War came to Texas, Flanagan was a Unionist. He withdrew to his farm and lived quietly. He would return to active politics during the Reconstruction. Flanagan served as a delegate to both Constitutional Conventions. The first, in 1866, produced a state constitution that was rejected by the Radical Republicans in the U.S. Congress. The second, in 1868–1869, was successful.
Under the new Constitution, Flanagan was elected as Lieutenant Governor in 1869. He only held the position for a month, from January to February 1870. When Texas was readmitted to the Union, the legislature named him, along with Morgan Hamilton, to the U.S. Senate. He served one term as a Senator, until 1875 when he was replaced by the DemocratSamuel Maxey. In the Senate he was a supporter of the Grant Administration.
Later lifeedit
After his Senate term, Flanagan took up residence on one of his farms near Longview, Texas. He married again (he was widowed twice and married three times), this time to Elizabeth Lane. The three marriages produced a total of eleven children. One of Flanagan's children was David Webster Flanagan who also served as Lieutenant Governor in Texas.
Flanagan died on his farm in Longview in 1887 and was buried next to his first wife, Polly, in their family graveyard in Henderson, Texas.
1. Because Texas seceded from the Union in 1861, seat was declared vacant from 1861 to 1870 when Louis T. Wigfall withdrew from the Senate.
April 13, 2024
flanagan, senator, flanagan, redirects, here, other, uses, senator, flanagan, disambiguation, james, winright, flanagan, september, 1805, september, 1887, american, merchant, lawyer, farmer, from, henderson, texas, although, never, officially, inaugurated, bri. Senator Flanagan redirects here For other uses see Senator Flanagan disambiguation James Winright Flanagan September 5 1805 September 28 1887 was an American merchant lawyer and farmer from Henderson Texas Although never officially inaugurated he briefly served as the Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1870 before leaving the position to represent Texas in the United States Senate from 1870 to 1875 J W FlanaganUnited States Senatorfrom TexasIn office March 30 1870 March 3 1875Preceded byLouis WigfallSucceeded bySamuel B MaxeyLieutenant Governor of TexasActing January 8 1870 February 24 1870GovernorEdmund J DavisPreceded byGeorge W JonesSucceeded byDonald Campbell Ex officio Richard B HubbardMember of the Texas Senate from the 9th districtIn office November 5 1855 November 2 1857Preceded byDavid GageSucceeded byMalcolm D GrahamMember of the Texas House of Representatives from the 10th districtIn office November 3 1851 November 7 1853Preceded byM D K TaylorSucceeded byAndrew G MeltonPersonal detailsBornJames Winright Flanagan 1805 09 05 September 5 1805Gordonsville Virginia U S DiedSeptember 28 1887 1887 09 28 aged 82 Longview Texas U S Political partyRepublicanChildrenWebster Flanagan Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Later life 4 External linksEarly life editFlanagan was born to Charles and Elizabeth Saunders Flanagan in Albemarle County near Gordonsville Virginia Before his tenth birthday the family moved to Boonesboro Kentucky As a young man he moved to Cloverport Kentucky on the Ohio River and became a prosperous merchant He also read law and was admitted to the Kentucky bar in 1825 He married Polly Moorman in 1826 and the couple had several children before moving to Henderson Texas in 1844 Career editFlanagan established himself in Henderson by opening a store He bought a farm speculated in land and practiced law Politically he was a Whig and an active supporter of Sam Houston He later became a moderate Republican Flanagan served in the Texas House of Representatives 1851 1852 and the Texas State Senate 1855 1858 When the Civil War came to Texas Flanagan was a Unionist He withdrew to his farm and lived quietly He would return to active politics during the Reconstruction Flanagan served as a delegate to both Constitutional Conventions The first in 1866 produced a state constitution that was rejected by the Radical Republicans in the U S Congress The second in 1868 1869 was successful Under the new Constitution Flanagan was elected as Lieutenant Governor in 1869 He only held the position for a month from January to February 1870 When Texas was readmitted to the Union the legislature named him along with Morgan Hamilton to the U S Senate He served one term as a Senator until 1875 when he was replaced by the Democrat Samuel Maxey In the Senate he was a supporter of the Grant Administration Later life editAfter his Senate term Flanagan took up residence on one of his farms near Longview Texas He married again he was widowed twice and married three times this time to Elizabeth Lane The three marriages produced a total of eleven children One of Flanagan s children was David Webster Flanagan who also served as Lieutenant Governor in Texas Flanagan died on his farm in Longview in 1887 and was buried next to his first wife Polly in their family graveyard in Henderson Texas External links editBiographic sketch at U S Congress website James Winwright Flanagan from the Handbook of Texas OnlineTexas SenatePreceded byDavid Gage Texas State Senatorfrom District 91855 1857 Succeeded byMalcolm D GrahamPolitical officesPreceded byGeorge Washington Jones Lieutenant Governor of Texas1869 1870 Succeeded byDonald Campbell Ex officio Richard B HubbardU S SenatePreceded byvacant 1 U S senator Class 1 from Texas1870 1875 Served alongside Morgan C Hamilton Succeeded bySamuel B MaxeyNotes and references1 Because Texas seceded from the Union in 1861 seat was declared vacant from 1861 to 1870 when Louis T Wigfall withdrew from the Senate Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title J W Flanagan amp oldid 1193095589, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
