He was the son of Josiah Tannehill (1752-1811), who had fought in the American Revolutionary War of 1775–1783 and Margaret Wilkins (1767-1811).

[2][5] He founded two newspaper, The Daily Orthopolitan in 1845, and Tannehill's Port Folio, a monthly journal of freemasonry and general literature, in 1847.

[7]: 101, 407  He also served as Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masonry in Tennessee in 1829.

This work contained the ritual for the degrees, other ceremonies, historical sketches, and the Ancient Landmarks.

[7]: 99  On reporting his death, The Freemason's Monthly Magazine of Boston, Massachusetts wrote: "Wise in counsel, prudent in action, he was regarded as peculiarly fitted, by his habits of life and high moral standing, to conduct the affairs of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee as its honored grand master.

Brother Tannehill was hailed as the Genius of Masonry, and all bore willing testimony to his worth as a Man and a Mason.

[2] In 1918, due to the increased industrial areas around the cemetery, the Grand Lodge of Tennessee appropriated funds to move Tannehill's remains and his Masonic monument to Mt.