Sam Houston

Samuel Houston (March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was a key figure in the history of Texas, and, as of 2005, the only person in U.S. history to have been the governor of two different states — Tennessee and Texas.

Early life

He was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia. Receiving only a basic education he emigrated with his family to Maryville, Tennessee in 1807, following the death of his father. He ran away from home in 1809 and resided for a time with a Cherokee tribe. He was adopted into the Nation and given the name "the Raven". In March 1813 he joined the U.S. Army to fight the British in the War of 1812. By December he had risen from private to third lieutenant. He was severely injured at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in March 1814. Following his recovery he was assigned as an Indian agent to the Cherokees. He left the army in March 1818.

Related Topics:
Rockbridge County - Virginia - Maryville - Tennessee - 1807 - 1809 - Cherokee - 1813 - U.S. Army - British - War of 1812 - Private - Lieutenant - Battle of Horseshoe Bend - 1814 - 1818

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Following six months of study he opened a legal practice in Lebanon, Tennessee. He was made attorney general of Nashville district in late 1818 and also given a command in the state militia. In 1822 he was elected to the House of Representatives for Tennessee, where he was a staunch supporter of fellow Tennesseean and Democrat Andrew Jackson and was widely considered to be Jackson's political protegé though their treatment of Indians differed greatly.

Related Topics:
Lebanon, Tennessee - Attorney general - 1822 - House of Representatives - Democrat - Andrew Jackson

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He was re-elected in 1824. In 1827 he declined to run for re-election to Congress and instead ran for, and won, the office of governor of Tennessee, defeating former governor Willie Blount. He intended to stand for re-election in 1828 but following an eleven week marriage to Eliza Allen he abruptly resigned (the actual divorce was not until 1837). He spent a time among the Cherokee under the name "the Raven", married a Cherokee widow named Diana Rogers Gentry, and set up a trading post (Wigwam Neosho near Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation), apparently drinking heavily the entire time.

Related Topics:
1824 - 1827 - Governor of Tennessee - Willie Blount - 1828 - Divorce - 1837 - Trading post - Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation

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