Tenant McLanahan

Tenant McLanahan (about 1820 – 11 February 1848) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War.

Born in Louisiana, McLanahan was appointed midshipman 12 December 1839 and passed midshipman 2 July 1845. He served in "Preble" in the Mediterranean Squadron; in "Delaware", "Brandywine", and "Macedonia" in the Brazil, African, and East Indian Squadrons, 1840-45; and in "Shark", "Portsmouth" and "Cyane" in the Pacific Squadron, 1846-48.

While attached to "Cyane", he was one of Lieutenant Charles Heywood’s party besieged by Mexican forces at San Jose, Baja California, 24 January to 14 February 1848. The small group had been left by Commodore William Shubrick to defend San Jose. He conducted himself in a "gallant, unflinching, and devoted manner" as Heywood's second-in-command, until he was killed by a rifleshot in the neck 11 February 1848.

Two ships have been named USS "McLanahan" for him.