Thomas J. Jennings

Thomas Jefferson Jennings (October 20, 1801 – September 23, 1881) was an American lawyer and politician.

Born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, Jennings graduated from Transylvania University and practiced law. He moved to the Republic of Texas in 1840. There, he served as the Texas Attorney General and was a member of the Texas House of Representatives.

Early life and education Jennings was born on October 20, 1801, in Shenandoah County, Virginia, the son of William Jennings, a member of the Virginia General Assembly, and Mariam Howard (née Smith) Jennings.

Around age ten, Jennings and his parents moved to Indiana, where his father purchased 5,000 acres of land. He then moved to Louisville, Kentucky, followed by Christian County; he lived in Todd County for some time. He voted against founding the University of Texas at Austin, believing Austin to be a morally depraved city.

In January 1844, Jennings married Sarah G. Mason, with whom he had three sons, including Tom, who became a politician. He was not of a specific faith, and was a member of the Freemasons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He died on September 23, 1881, aged 79, in Fort Worth, from illness. Jennings Avenue, in Fort Worth, was named for him.