James Fentress
Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
1815–1817
Preceded byThomas Claiborne
Succeeded byThomas Williamson[1]
In office
1819–1825
Preceded byThomas Williamson
Succeeded byWilliam Brady
Personal details
BornFebruary 16, 1763
New Hanover County, North Carolina
DiedJune 20, 1843
Political partyDemocratic Party

James Fentress (February 16, 1763 – June 20, 1843) was a Tennessee politician and Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Born in New Hanover County, North Carolina in 1763, he moved to Montgomery County, Tennessee in 1800. He was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1809.[2] He served as Speaker of the House from 1815 to 1817 and again from 1819 to 1825.[1] Fentress later served as chairman of the Montgomery County Court and was on the committee that chose the county seats of Carroll, Gibson, Haywood, and Weakley counties.[3]

Fentress County, Tennessee was named for Fentress, as was its county seat of Jamestown. Fentress helped pass the law that created the county in 1823.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Historical Constitutional Officers of Tennessee 1796-Present Territory South of the River Ohio 1790-1796: Speakers of the House" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  2. ^ Fentress, Willie Blount (1902). "James Fentress". The American Historical Magazine and Tennessee Historical Society Quarterly. 7–8: 178. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  3. ^ "History". Fentress County, Tennessee. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  4. ^ Cargile, Lorene. "Fentress County". Tennessee Encyclopedia. Tennessee Historical Society. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
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