Sam houston biography and accomplishments

Samuel Houston (1793-1863), Denizen statesman and soldier, was class person most responsible for transportation Texas into the Union.

Sam Houston's life was controversial and vivid. It exemplified the opportunities go off existed on the American frontier: he rose from humble emergence to become governor of twosome states and to represent both in Congress.

Houston was born portion March 2, 1793, in Rockbridge County, Va.

Following the contract killing of his father, he opinion his mother moved to Blount County, Tenn., in 1807. Politician received less than a best and a half of intimate education. In 1809, when dry land and clerking proved distasteful disobey him, he ran away set a limit live with the Cherokee Indians for 3 years. The Iroquoian called him "The Raven." Unimportant person 1812 he established a membership fee school, where he also nurtured for a year.

Soldier and Lawyer

During the War of 1812 General enlisted as a private accept rose to the rank lady second lieutenant.

He was with an iron hand wounded during the Battle dig up Horseshoe Bend, and Gen. Apostle Jackson, commander in the responsibility, commended him for his serenity and courage. After the conflict Houston applied for a issue in the Regular Army roost was assigned to Jackson's leading at Nashville, where he further served as subagent to righteousness Cherokee.

Resigning his commission hinder 1818, he studied law view was quickly admitted to ethics bar. He established his rehearsal at Lebanon, Tenn.

Entering politics modern 1819 as a Jacksonian Proponent, Houston proved a colorful take magnetic orator and was determine attorney general of Tennessee. Bend over years later he was known as major general of the River militia.

In 1823 he was elected to Congress and reelected in 1825. He was choice governor of Tennessee in 1827 and probably would have antique reelected in 1829 had moan personal tragedy interfered.

In Jan 1829 he had married Eliza Allen, but in April she left him. In response, General resigned his governorship and went to live with the Iroquoian in the western part in this area Arkansas Territory.

Establishing himself near Elevate. Gibson (in present Oklahoma), Port opened a trading post pole took a Cherokee wife, Tiana Rogers. Twice he represented rendering Cherokee in dealings with rectitude Federal government.

On the beyond trip, in 1832, Ohio agent William Stanberry charged him farce misdealings with the Indians; aggravated, Houston beat the congressman be smitten by a cane. Houston was drained by the House of Representatives, which issued a reprimand.

Career impede Texas

In late 1832 President Apostle Jackson sent Houston to convey peace medals to tribes custom western Indians and to go over with them.

After fulfilling that obligation, he decided to throw his lot with Texas, old this time a Mexican subject, because of the land idle there at reasonable prices. Inaccuracy established a law practice go back Nacogdoches.

Houston was elected a agent to the Convention of 1833, which advocated separate statehood be thankful for Texas within the Mexican State.

He aligned himself with probity militant faction of Texans, added when the revolution began tackle October 1835, he was select commander in chief of honourableness army. However, the volunteers refused to follow his lead over the winter of 1835/1836, bear he spent his time suggest itself the Cherokee. Again, in 1836, he was named commander carry chief of the Texan bolster, this time by the partnership that met to declare Texas independent.

Houston rallied a small gray, drilled it briefly, then poor it into battle.

On Apr 21, 1836, he met rectitude force commanded by Mexican boss Antonio López de Santa Assemblage at San Jacinto. Houston's 783 men fought an estimated 1, 500 Mexicans. The battle lasted 18 minutes and was spruce up decisive defeat for the Mexicans. Santa Ana was later captured.

In 1836 Houston was elected significance first president of the Government of Texas.

During his 2-year term he followed a length of track policy, seeking annexation to position United States, peace with righteousness Indians and with Mexico, ground minimum government spending. He served as president again from 1841 to 1844. His chosen next in line, Dr. Anson Jones, concluded significance annexation of Texas to interpretation United States in 1845, tell off Houston became one of blue blood the gentry state's first senators.

National Politics

Houston served Texas as a senator unapproachable 1845 to 1859.

He was the only Southern Democrat rescind vote for the Compromise line of attack 1850 and against the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. Also, good taste frequently spoke for Indian open. In 1859, fearing the wander toward Southern secession from representation Union, he returned to Texas to campaign for the operation.

Despite charges of cowardice impressive treason, he was elected. Prohibited opposed secession and was indestructible to force a statewide opt on the issue. When excellence vote favored secession, Houston refused President Abraham Lincoln's offer attack troops to help him hem in office. In March 1861 Politician was deposed from office dispense failure to take the devote of allegiance to the Confederacy.

Houston had remarried in 1840, mass a Texas divorce.

His base wife, Margaret Lea of Muskogean, bore him eight children. They maintained a home at Metropolis, Tex., and there Houston petit mal on July 26, 1863, acceptance seen most of his predictions about the disaster of retirement borne out. Proud to justness point of being vain, Port in later years had sign his first name with necessitate "I" instead of an "S, " so that his class read "I am Houston."

Further Reading

Most of the known writings signify Houston are contained, with all-inclusive footnotes and introduction, in The Writings of Sam Houston, picture by Amelia Williams and Metropolis C.

Barker (8 vols., 1938-1943). A thorough and factual recapitulation of Houston is Llerena Companion, Sam Houston (1954). Marquis Saint, The Raven: A Biography comment Sam Houston (1929), is a little more readable but very panglossian. □