Tinsley was a soldier in the Republic of Texas. He joined the First Texas Volunteers in 1835 and confirmed as a lieutenant in the regular army in March, 1836. He participated in the Battle of San Jacinto, and after the war, was appointed a major in a cavalry battalion in the regular army. He became commander of the First Cavalry regiment in January and killed in a duel with Major Stiles Leroy in San Antonio.
