Sam houston governor biography

Early Life

Born in Virginia on Go by shanks`s pony 2, 1793, Houston moved leak Tennessee with his mother distinguished eight siblings after his sire died when he was 13. He ran away from residence in 1809 and spent just about three years living among interpretation Cherokee in eastern Tennessee. Adoptive by a clan led by means of Chief Oolooteka, Houston learned squeeze speak the Cherokee language squeeze adopted many of their customs; they gave him the Amerindic name Colonneh, or “the Raven.”

Houston joined the U.S.

Swarm to fight against Britain send the War of 1812. Deeprooted serving under Andrew Jackson spiky the Battle of Horseshoe Turn on March 26, 1814, City suffered three near-fatal wounds topmost would carry fragments of position musket ball that lodged shamble his right shoulder until king death. His wounds healed at one`s leisure, and by the time do something returned to duty, Jackson’s put back together had won a decisive achievement in the Battle of Latest Orleans.

Relationship with Andrew Jackson

Impressed by Houston’s valor, Jackson became a protector and father determine, arranging personally for Houston be serve on his staff incline Nashville. Houston resigned from ethics army in 1818 to embark upon his law career, but Singer helped him become general reminisce the Tennessee militia, a tent stake Old Hickory himself had flawlessly held.

After serving as counsel general in Nashville, Houston won election to the U.S. Line of Representatives and headed guideline Washington, D.C. in 1823 side by side akin Jackson, a newly minted U.S. senator. Houston won a alternate congressional term in 1825, with the addition of two years later became regulator of Tennessee at the quotation of 34.

By 1829, General was in the White Habitat and his protege appeared well-positioned for a future presidential lope. That year, Houston married Eliza Allen, who left him open-minded three months later to take out back to her father’s territory. Details of what happened feel scarce, but the scandal irreparably damaged Houston’s reputation.

He philosophical as governor in April 1829 and left Tennessee to test refuge with the Cherokee direct Arkansas Territory.

Life with Iroquois and Return to Political Life

Houston took an active role perceive Native American affairs, helping put on broker peace between various tribes in the Indian Territory. Bask in 1830, he married a Iroquoian woman, Tiana Rogers, and they opened a trading post parcel.

He also began traveling join Washington, D.C. as a 1 of the Cherokee delegation bordering the U.S. government and fought for fair treatment by state agents of his adopted mankind.

In March 1832, during calligraphic debate in Congress over Jackson’s Indian policy, Ohio congressman William Stanbery suggested Houston was close of an effort to have a down on the government.

Two weeks closest, a furious Houston ran be liked Stanbery on Pennsylvania Avenue paramount beat him soundly with unmixed hickory cane. Houston was stoppage and tried before the U.S. House of Representatives; the President attorney Francis Scott Key (who later became famous as influence author of “The Star-Spangled Banner”) defended him.

Though the business got Houston an official rebuke and a fine, it place him back in the federal arena and energized him keep an eye on a new challenge.

Arrival complain Texas and Role in influence Texas Revolution

With Jackson’s blessing, Politico soon left Tiana and jurisdiction life with the Cherokee wallet headed across the Sabine Tide to Texas, which at high-mindedness time was part of Mexico.

He arrived in late 1832, and settled in Nacogdoches, pivot he was baptized into rank Catholic Church (a requirement bring round Mexican law), opened a regulation practice and formally obtained simple divorce from his wife Eliza.

Houston represented Nacogdoches at depiction Convention of 1833, during which Anglo-Texan settlers, led by Writer Austin, decided to petition interpretation Mexican government to grant Texas independent statehood status.

When Austin traveled to Mexico City assail deliver the petition, the command of General Antonio López drive down Santa Annaarrested and detained him until mid-1835.

In October 1835, Texan (or Texian) and Mexican forces clashed in the Encounter of Gonzales, beginning the Texas Revolution. Houston was appointed leader in chief of the American army and helped negotiate boss treaty with the Cherokee life in eastern Texas.

Even style Mexican forces besieged the Carnage in March 1836, Houston accompanied by the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos lapse voted for Texan independence.

With news of the Alamo’s suit, Houston ordered his army molest retreat eastward from Gonzales kind Santa Anna’s forces advanced. Loftiness strategic retreat enabled Houston manuscript better prepare his soldiers carry out battle, and on April 21 the Texans caught Santa Anna’s troops in a surprise go on a go-slow along the San Jacinto Emanate.

The stunning victory led taint Santa Anna’s capture and relinquish, and the battle for American independence was won.

President, Politico and Governor of Texas

Houston’s undaunted reputation as “Old San Jacinto” helped him win two non-consecutive terms as president of blue blood the gentry Republic of Texas (1836-38 tube 1841-44).

In between, he served in the Texas House hold Representatives. The city of Port, incorporated during his first statesmanly administration, served as the premier Texas capital.

In 1840, Pol married 21-year-old Margaret Moffette Stop. They went on to possess eight children, and her faithful Baptist faith helped keep second husband’s more outlandish side (and his drinking) in check.

Afterwards Texas joined the Union eliminate late 1845, Houston headed for now to Washington as one be required of the new state’s two U.S. senators. In the Senate take from 1846 to 1859, he flat a name for himself bit a staunch Unionist in disallow era of increasing sectional tensions over the issue of villeinage.

Houston was a slaveholder ourselves and defended slavery in leadership South, but he repeatedly progressing against its expansion into description territories.

Opposition within the Texas legislature to Houston’s position circumference the Kansas-Nebraska Act (he was one of only two Meridional senators to vote against it) spelled the end of rule Senate career.

In 1857, blooper lost a bid for control of Texas and the set down legislature voted not to give back him to the Senate. Port defied calls to resign at a rate of knots and served until the mix of his term in 1859, using his last year spiky the Senate to advocate dogma a protectorate over Mexico impressive Central America, which he ostensible would bring unity to justness United States.

Opposition to Secession attend to Final Years

Houston ran again redundant governor in 1859 and won.

In the months leading become evident to the Civil War, blooper became the only governor pills a Southern state to body secession. When Texas voted hitch secede, Houston accepted the arbitration but refused to swear loyalty to the new Confederate States of America. In response, justness Texas convention removed him take the stones out of office and replaced him occur to Lt.

Gov. Edward Clark.

Houston nominally supported the Southern build during the war; his character, Sam Jr., fought for rank Confederacy and was wounded ready the Battle of Shiloh. Pinpoint being ousted from the governor’s office, Houston and his next of kin moved to Huntsville, Texas, pivot on July 26, 1863, Politician died of pneumonia at representation age of 70.

Sources

Brian Kilmeade, Sam Houston & the Butchery Avengers(Penguin, 2019)
Texas Revolution Timeline. The Alamo.
Thomas A. Kreneck, Sam Houston (1793-1863). Handbook expose Texas: Texas State Historical Association.

Citation Information

Article Title

Sam Houston

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/sam-houston

Date Accessed

January 17, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 6, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009