Thomas L. Blanton

Thomas Lindsay Blanton (October 25, 1872 - August 11, 1957) was a U.S. Representative from Texas.

Born in Houston, Texas, Blanton was educated in the public schools.He was graduated from the law department of the University of Texas at Austin in 1897, with three years in the academic department.He was admitted to the bar in 1897 and commenced practice in Cleburne, Texas.He moved to Albany, Texas, and continued the practice of law until 1908, when he was elected judge of the forty-second judicial district of Texas.He was reelected in 1912 and served in that capacity from 1908 until elected to Congress.

Blanton was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-fifth and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1917-March 3, 1929). Censured by the House of Representatives on October 24, 1921, for abuse of leave to print.He was not a candidate for renomination in 1928 but was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the United States Senate.

Blanton was subsequently elected on May 20, 1930, to the Seventy-first Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Robert Q. Lee.He was reelected to the Seventy-second, Seventy-third, and Seventy-fourth Congresses and served from May 20, 1930, to January 3, 1937.He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1936.He engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D.C., in 1937 and 1938.He returned to Albany, Texas, in 1938, and continued practicing law.He also engaged in the raising of Hereford cattle.He died in Albany, Texas, August 11, 1957.He was interred in Albany Cemetery.

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