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Linn Banks
Member From: 1812 - 1838
- Birth Date: January 23, 1784 Birth Place:Culpeper, Virginia
- Death Date: January 14, 1842
- Gender: Male Race: Caucasian
- Spouse: Eliza J.H. Sanders
- Children:
- Religion:
- Education: College of William & Mary
- Military Service: Colonel, Virginia Militia
- Occupation/Profession: Lawyer (admitted to the bar April 10, 1809)
- Memberships/Affiliations: Founder, Virginia Historical Society
- Additional Info: Drowned, January 13, 1842, while attempting to ford the Conway River near Wolftown, Madison County.
Elected as a Democrat to the 25th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John M. Patton.
Elected to the 27th Congress and served from March 4 to December 6, 1841 when he was succeeded by William Smith, who contested the election.
- Bio: Born in what was then Culpeper County, Va., January 23, 1784. Died in Madison County, Va., January 13, 1942. Buried at “Vale Evergreen”, Madison County, Va, Linn Banks of Madison County was the son of Adam and Gracey (James) Banks of Culpeper County. He was a student at the College of William and Mary in 1806, and was admitted to the bar, April 10, 1 809. He served in the War of 1812. He was a member of the House of Delegates, 1812-38, and as Speaker thereof had the longest tenure in office (22 years). He was a member of the U. S. House of Representatives, 1838-41, and was a Colonel in the Virginia Militia. He was an accomplished parliamentarian, an able debater, and was a founder of the Virginia Historical Society. He was drowned while attempting to ford the Conway River near Wolftown, Madison County. He married Eliza J. H. Sanders, daughter of Brittain and Edith Sanders of Raleigh, North Carolina. The estimable clerk of Madison County, Mr. Charles J. Ross, writes: “In the heart of the Graves Mill Valley, Madison County, Virginia, beneath the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains, within hearing of the rolling waters of the Rapidan River, on the banks of an everflowing, refreshing, babbling brook, in an uninclosed blooming jonquil cemetery, under nature”s perpetual care, provided by the hand of God, surrounded on all sides by a crimson clover covered held, lies the mortal remains of Linn Banks." An inscription on his tombstone reads thus: He was a long tried friend and faithful public servant, a most devoted husband, and kind neighbor, a sure friend, and a humane master.
- Other Notable Service and/or Elected Offices:
U.S. House of Representatives (April 28, 1838-Dec. 6, 1841)
Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates for 22 years (1817-1838)
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1812-1813 | Madison | Democratic-Republican | Propositions and Grievances | ||
| 1813-1814 | Madison | Democratic-Republican | Courts of Justice | ||
| 1814-1815 | Madison | Democratic-Republican | Courts of Justice | ||
| 1815-1816 | Madison | Democratic-Republican | Penitentiary (Chair) Courts of Justice |
||
| 1816-1817 | Madison | Democratic-Republican | Penitentiary (Chair) Banks Courts of Justice |
||
| 1817-1818 | Madison | Democratic-Republican | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1818-1819 | Madison | Democratic-Republican | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1819-1820 | Madison | Democratic-Republican | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1820-1821 | Madison | Democratic-Republican | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1821-1822 | Madison | Democratic-Republican | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1822-1823 | Madison | Democratic-Republican | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1823-1824 | Madison | Democratic-Republican | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1824-1825 | Madison | Democrat | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1825-1826 | Madison | Democrat | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1826-1827 | Madison | Democrat | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1827-1828 | Madison | Democrat | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1828-1829 | Madison | Democrat | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1829-1830 | Madison | Democrat | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1830-1831 | Madison | Democrat | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1831-1832 | Madison | Democrat | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1832-1833 | Madison | Democrat | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1833-1834 | Madison | Democrat | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1834-1835 | Madison | Democrat | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1835-1836 | Madison | Democrat | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1836-1837 | Madison | Speaker of the House | |||
| 1838 | Madison | Speaker of the House |
*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.