The 8th Texas Legislature met from November 7, 1859 to April 9, 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.
Sessions
8th Regular session: November 7, 1859 – February 13, 1860
8th First called session: January 21–February 9, 1861
8th Adjourned session: March 18–April 9, 1861
Party summary
Officers
Senate
Lieutenant Governor Edward Clark, Democrat
President pro tempore Jesse Grimes, Democrat, Regular session
House of Representatives
Speaker of the House M. D. K. Taylor, Democrat
Members
Members of the Eighth Texas Legislature at the beginning of the regular session, November 7, 1859:
Senate
House of Representatives
Basilio Benavides
Anthony Martin Branch
Kindallis Bryan
Constantine W. Buckley
William Clark
David B. Culberson
Nicholas Henry Darnell
John Wilson Davis, Jr. Isaac N. Dennis David Catchings Dickson Edward Dougherty Foscue James Carlton Francis Benjamin Cromwell Franklin De Witt Clinton Fort Lindsay Hagler, San Patricio County James Marshall Harrison J. W. Henderson Alfred Marmaduke Hobby Richard Bennett Hubbard, Jr. Henry Lawrence Kinney Francis J. Lynch John Haywood Manley Samuel Maverick John N. McClarty George McKnight Roger Q. Mills William Wright Morris Titus H. Mundine José Ángel Navarro Allison Nelson Benjamin F. Parker Samuel Redgate Joel Walter Robison Shelton Daniel McDowell Short John Dennis Stell M. D. K. Taylor Robert H. Taylor Robert J. Townes Jacob Waelder Charles A. Warfield George Washington Whitmore William Amos Wortham Friedrich Wilhelm von Wrede, Jr.
Membership changes
Senate
District 15: Sexton did not return from Confederate States Army service in time to meet with the legislature. District 25: Shelley elected in special election held March 25, 1861 and sworn in with the Ninth Texas Legislature.