Rienzi Melville Johnston

Rienzi Melville Johnston
United States Senator
from Texas
In office
January 4, 1913  January 29, 1913
Appointed byOscar Branch Colquitt
Preceded byJoseph W. Bailey
Succeeded byMorris Sheppard
Personal details
Born(1849-09-09)September 9, 1849
Sandersville, Georgia, U.S.
DiedFebruary 28, 1926(1926-02-28) (aged 76)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Resting placeGlenwood Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic

Rienzi Melville Johnston (September 9, 1849  February 28, 1926) was an American journalist and politician. He edited the Houston Post from 1885 to 1919, and served a 29-day term in the United States Senate in January 1913 after the resignation of Joseph Weldon Bailey. His term remains the fifth shortest in Senate history. Johnston was a member of the Texas Senate from 1917 to 1920, and also its President pro tempore from 1918.