b. 1817, in Kentucky; d. September 4, 1856, in Benton, Illinois. Denning practiced law in Frankfort, Illinois, and moved to Benton when the county seat of Franklin County relocated there. He represented Franklin, Pulaski, and Alexander counties in the Illinois General Assembly from 1844 to 1847. The state legislature appointed Denning to serve as state's attorney in the Third Judicial Circuit in 1845. He resigned from the House of Representatives in January 1847 to accept appointment as associate justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. His appointment filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Walter B. Scates. Denning sat on the supreme court until December of 1848. In the reorganization of the judicial system, Denning was elected judge of the Third Judicial Circuit Court in December 1848. He served in that position until January 1854.