Benjamin Cromwell Franklin (April 25, 1805 – December 25, 1873) was the first judicial officeholder in the Republic of Texas

Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...

.

Franklin was born in Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

, and educated at Franklin College

Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is the founding college of the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, United States. The college was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin.-History:...

 at the University of Georgia

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...

 in Athens

Athens, Georgia

Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...

, before being admitted to the bar in 1827. In 1835, he travelled to Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

, and supported a declaration of war against Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

. On April 7, 1836, he was appointed a captain in the Texas army.

In March 1836, the Republic of Texas captured a U.S.-owned

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 brig, Pocket. Upon realising that this action could alienate the United States, the Texan government took steps to investigate the matter, and President David G. Burnet

David G. Burnet

David Gouverneur Burnet was an early politician within the Republic of Texas, serving as interim President of Texas , second Vice President of the Republic of Texas , and Secretary of State for the new state of Texas after it was annexed to the United States of America.Burnet was born in Newark,...

 appointed Franklin district judge of Brazoria

Brazoria, Texas

Brazoria is a city of Brazoria County in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 2,787.Brazoria was originally founded as a port for Stephen F...

 to investigate the matter. Franklin resigned his judgeship in 1839, moving to Galveston

Galveston, Texas

Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...

 to practice law.

Franklin was elected to represent Galveston in the House of Representatives

Texas House of Representatives

The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...

 in the Third

Third Texas Legislature

The Third Texas Legislature met from 5 November 1849 to 3 December 1850 in its regular session and two called sessions. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1849.-Sessions:...

, Fifth

Fifth Texas Legislature

The Fifth Texas Legislature met from 7 November 1853 to 13 February 1854 in its regular session. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1853.-Senate:...

, and Eighth Texas Legislature

Eighth Texas Legislature

The Eighth Texas Legislature met from 7 November 1859 to 9 April 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....

s. Franklin was also elected to serve in the Senate

Texas Senate

The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...

 of the Fourteenth Texas Legislature

Fourteenth Texas Legislature

The Fourteenth Texas Legislature met from 13 January 1874 to 15 March 1875 in two regular sessions. All members of the House of Representatives and about half of the members of the Senate were elected in 1873.-Sessions:...

, but died 25 December 1873, 2½ weeks before the start of the regular session

Although it is not officially recorded, Franklin County

Franklin County, Texas

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,458 people, 3,754 households, and 2,732 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile . There were 5,132 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...

is generally believed to have been named in his honor.

External links