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.

Life in Texas

Following a trial for assault in Washington he left the Cherokee and his wife to enter Mexican Texas in December 1832. He was immediately swept up in the politics of the Mexican state. He attended the Convention of 1833 as representative for Nacogdoches and emerged as a radical, supporting William Harris Wharton and his brother. He also attended the Consultation of 1835. He was made a Major General, of the Texas Army in November 1835, then Commander-in-Chief in March 1836. He negotiated a settlement with the Cherokee in February 1836.

Related Topics:
Mexican Texas - 1832 - Mexican - 1833 - Nacogdoches - Radical - 1835 - Major General - Commander-in-Chief - 1836

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Following the Texas Declaration of Independence in March, Houston joined his volunteer army at Gonzales and was soon forced on the retreat in the face of the forces of Antonio López de Santa Anna. But at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836 the Mexicans were taken by surprise and badly beaten. Santa Anna was captured the following day. Houston briefly remained for negotiations before retiring to the United States for treatment of an ankle wound.

Related Topics:
Texas Declaration of Independence - Volunteer - Antonio López de Santa Anna - Battle of San Jacinto - April 21 - 1836

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Using his popularity, Houston was twice elected president of the Republic of Texas on September 5, 1836 and served from October 22, 1836 to December 10, 1838, and from December 12, 1841 to December 9, 1844. He put down the Cordova Rebellion of 1838 and while initially seeking annexation by the U.S. he dropped that hope during his first term. In his second term he strove for financial prudence and worked to make peace with the Indians and avoid war with Mexico, following the two invasions of 1842. He had to act over the Regulator-Moderator War of 1844 and sent in the militia. The settlement of Houston was founded in 1836, named in his honor and served as capital. Between his presidential terms (the constitution did not allow a president to serve consecutive terms), he was a representative in the Texas House of Representatives for San Augustine. He was a major critic of President Mirabeau Lamar, who advocated continuing independence of Texas and its extension to the Pacific Ocean.

Related Topics:
President - Republic of Texas - September 5 - October 22 - December 10 - 1838 - December 12 - 1841 - December 9 - 1844 - Cordova Rebellion - 1842 - Regulator-Moderator War - Militia - Houston - 1836 - Mirabeau Lamar - Pacific Ocean

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On May 9, 1840, in Marion, Alabama, he married Margaret Moffette Lea, with whom he had eight children. Margaret acted as a tempering influence on Houston.

Related Topics:
1840 - Marion - Alabama - Margaret Moffette Lea

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His son, Andrew Jackson Houston (1854 - 1941), was appointed to the US Senate two months before his death.

Related Topics:
Andrew Jackson Houston - 1854 - 1941

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