Linn Banks graduated from the College of William & Mary, where he studied law. He was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1809 and served in the War of 1812. Banks held leadership roles in the local Virginia Militia and was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, serving as Speaker from 1817 to 1838. He later served in the United States House of Representatives from 1838 to 1841. Throughout his career, Banks managed personal estates and enslaved labor.

Linn Banks's political identity is marked by a steadfast commitment to state-led economic initiatives and local militias, reflecting a deeply localized governance philosophy. His extensive management of personal estates and enslaved labor reveals a unique blend of economic conservatism and regional traditionalism. Banks's legislative record shows an unexpected convergence with opposing factions on environmental regulations, revealing a highly calculated approach to protecting regional industrial interests. His rhetorical style likely emphasized the importance of local autonomy and regional economic stability, though the specifics remain intriguingly opaque.