8th Texas Legislature


The 8th Texas Legislature met from November 7, 1859 to April 9, 1861 in its regular session, a first called session, and an adjourned session. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1859.

Sessions

8th Regular session: November 7, 1859 – February 13, 18608th First called session: January 21–February 9, 18618th Adjourned session: March 18–April 9, 1861

Officers

Senate

; Lieutenant Governor: Edward Clark, Democrat
; President pro tempore: Jesse Grimes, Democrat, Regular session

House of Representatives

; Speaker of the House : M. D. K. Taylor, Democrat

Members

Members of the Eighth Texas Legislature at the beginning of the regular session, November 7, 1859:

House of Representatives

DistrictRepresentativePartyTook office
1Solomon H. PirkeyUnknownNovember 12, 1859

Membership changes

Senate

DistrictOutgoing
Senator		Reason for VacancySuccessorDate of Successor's Installation
District 3Martin D. HartHart resigned February 26, 1861.Turner L. GreeneUnknown
District 8Louis T. WigfallWigfall announced his resignation on December 7, 1859.E. A. BlanchJanuary 14, 1860
District 9Jesse H. ParsonsParsons resigned after the adjourned session.-
District 12Alexis T. RaineyRainey resigned after the regular session.Steward Alexander MillerJanuary 21, 1861
District 14John R. DickinsonDickinson resigned after the regular session.Henry P. C. DulanyJanuary 26, 1861
District 15Henry C. WallaceWallace resigned January 4, 1861.Franklin Barlow SextonNone
District 15Franklin Barlow SextonSexton did not appear.None
District 25Eggleston D. TownesTownes resigned March 13, 1861.Nathan George ShelleyNovember 4, 1861
District 29Forbes BrittonBritton died February 14, 1861.Benjamin Franklin NealMarch 19, 1861
District 30Isaiah Addison PaschalPaschal resigned March 29, 1861.UnknownUnknown
District 15: Sexton did not return from Confederate States Army service in time to meet with the legislature.District 25: Shelley elected in special election held March 25, 1861 and sworn in with the Ninth Texas Legislature.

House of Representatives

DistrictOutgoing
Representative		Reason for VacancySuccessorDate of Successor's Installation
District 22John N. McClartyMcClarty resigned after the regular session.William Wright MorrisJanuary 22, 1861
District 65Henry Lawrence KinneyKinney was opposed to secession and resigned February 9, 1861.Alfred Marmaduke HobbyMarch 19, 1861