Franklin, Benjamin Cromwell, 1805-1873

Franklin was a judge in Galveston, Texas.

Benjamin Cromwell Franklin (1805–1873) was a lawyer, legislator, and the first judge in the Republic of Texas. He was educated at Franklin College, Athens, Georgia. Franklin was admitted to the bar in 1827, and moved to Texas in 1835 to fight against Indians and to go to war against Mexico.

Franklin fought in the Texas Revolution, 1836, as a private in Captain Robert J. Calder's company. He also fulfilled a role as victory messenger, traveling to Galveston Island to inform President Burnet of the victory at San Jacinto. As compensation for his services, Franklin received a land grant for 320 acres and became one of the first people to buy land at the site that would become Houston, Texas. Later in 1836, President Sam Houston appointed Franklin judge of the Second (or Brazoria) Judicial District, making Franklin a member of the Supreme Court of the Republic.

In 1839 Franklin resigned and moved to Galveston to practice law. He went on to represent Galveston County in the House of Representatives of the Third, Fifth, and Eighth state legislatures. In 1870, Governor E. J. Davis asked him to serve as commissioner, to revise the laws of Texas, but Franklin declined the offer. Franklin died on December 25, 1873, after a long battle with rheumatism, and was buried in Galveston. Although not certain, it is widely accepted that Franklin County, Texas, was named for Benjamin Cromwell Franklin.

Source : Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. Franklin, Benjamin Cromwell, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/FF/ffr2.html (accessed May 20, 2010).

Benjamin Cromwell Franklin (1805-1873) was a lawyer, legislator, and the first judge in the Republic of Texas.

He was educated at Franklin College, Athens, Georgia. Franklin was admitted to the bar in 1827, and moved to Texas in 1835 to fight against Indians and to go to war against Mexico. Franklin fought in the Texas Revolution, 1836, as a private in Captain Robert J. Calder's company. He also fulfilled a role as victory messenger, traveling to Galveston Island to inform President Burnet of the victory at San Jacinto. As compensation for his services, Franklin received a land grant for 320 acres and became one of the first people to buy land at the site that would become Houston, Texas. Later in 1836, President Sam Houston appointed Franklin judge of the Second (or Brazoria) Judicial District, making Franklin a member of the Supreme Court of the Republic.

In 1839 Franklin resigned and moved to Galveston to practice law. He went on to represent Galveston County in the House of Representatives of the Third, Fifth, and Eighth state legislatures.

In 1870, Governor E. J. Davis asked him to serve as commissioner, to revise the laws of Texas, but Franklin declined the offer. Franklin died on December 25, 1873, after a long battle with rheumatism, and was buried in Galveston. Although not certain, it is widely accepted that Franklin County, Texas, was named for Benjamin Cromwell Franklin.