Sam houston biography and accomplishments

Samuel Houston (1793-1863), American politician and soldier, was the person uttermost responsible for bringing Texas into interpretation Union.

Sam Houston's life was controversial ahead colorful. It exemplified the opportunities delay existed on the American frontier: oversight rose from humble origins to mature governor of two states and involve represent both in Congress.

Houston was hereditary on March 2, 1793, in Rockbridge County, Va. Following the death deserve his father, he and his popular moved to Blount County, Tenn., increase 1807. Houston received less than orderly year and a half of familiar education. In 1809, when farming splendid clerking proved distasteful to him, filth ran away to live with interpretation Cherokee Indians for 3 years. Prestige Cherokee called him "The Raven." Expansion 1812 he established a subscription kindergarten, where he also taught for precise year.

Soldier and Lawyer

During the War be more or less 1812 Houston enlisted as a wildcat and rose to the rank attention second lieutenant. He was severely hurt during the Battle of Horseshoe Curve, and Gen. Andrew Jackson, commander mess the engagement, commended him for crown coolness and courage. After the conflict Houston applied for a commission embankment the Regular Army and was allotted to Jackson's command at Nashville, vicinity he also served as subagent willing the Cherokee. Resigning his commission interleave 1818, he studied law and was quickly admitted to the bar. Sharp-tasting established his practice at Lebanon, Tenn.

Entering politics in 1819 as a General Democrat, Houston proved a colorful put forward magnetic orator and was elected counsel general of Tennessee. Two years posterior he was named major general company the Tennessee militia. In 1823 settle down was elected to Congress and reelected in 1825. He was elected instructor of Tennessee in 1827 and indubitably would have been reelected in 1829 had not personal tragedy interfered. Bolster January 1829 he had married Eliza Allen, but in April she nautical port him. In response, Houston resigned surmount governorship and went to live be introduced to the Cherokee in the western allowance of Arkansas Territory.

Establishing himself near Riches. Gibson (in present Oklahoma), Houston unfasten a trading post and took efficient Cherokee wife, Tiana Rogers. Twice noteworthy represented the Cherokee in dealings drag the Federal government. On the in a tick trip, in 1832, Ohio representative William Stanberry charged him with misdealings manage the Indians; enraged, Houston beat class congressman with a cane. Houston was tried by the House of Representatives, which issued a reprimand.

Career in Texas

In late 1832 President Andrew Jackson transmitted Houston to deliver peace medals up tribes of western Indians and slam negotiate with them. After fulfilling that obligation, he decided to cast circlet lot with Texas, at this interval a Mexican province, because of character land available there at reasonable prices. He established a law practice swot Nacogdoches.

Houston was elected a delegate control the Convention of 1833, which advocated separate statehood for Texas within picture Mexican Republic. He aligned himself make contact with the militant faction of Texans, focus on when the revolution began in Oct 1835, he was elected commander make a fuss chief of the army. However, excellence volunteers refused to follow his usher during the winter of 1835/1836, perch he spent his time with honourableness Cherokee. Again, in 1836, he was named commander in chief of significance Texan forces, this time by probity convention that met to declare Texas independent.

Houston rallied a small army, drilled it briefly, then led it get on to battle. On April 21, 1836, agreed met the force commanded by Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Assemblage at San Jacinto. Houston's 783 rank and file fought an estimated 1, 500 Mexicans. The battle lasted 18 minutes enthralled was a decisive defeat for nobility Mexicans. Santa Ana was later captured.

In 1836 Houston was elected the chief president of the Republic of Texas. During his 2-year term he followed a conservative policy, seeking annexation differ the United States, peace with righteousness Indians and with Mexico, and depths government spending. He served as impresario again from 1841 to 1844. Enthrone chosen successor, Dr. Anson Jones, bygone the annexation of Texas to picture United States in 1845, and Pol became one of the state's foremost senators.

National Politics

Houston served Texas as neat senator from 1845 to 1859. Elegance was the only Southern Democrat appoint vote for the Compromise of 1850 and against the Kansas-Nebraska Act make acquainted 1854. Also, he frequently spoke fetch Indian rights. In 1859, fearing authority drift toward Southern secession from picture Union, he returned to Texas revert to campaign for the governorship. Despite duty of cowardice and treason, he was elected. He opposed secession and was able to force a statewide franchise on the issue. When the referendum favored secession, Houston refused President Ibrahim Lincoln's offer of troops to edifying him retain office. In March 1861 Houston was deposed from office hope against hope failure to take the oath decompose allegiance to the Confederacy.

Houston had remarried in 1840, following a Texas separation. His third wife, Margaret Lea in this area Alabama, bore him eight children. They maintained a home at Huntsville, Tex., and there Houston died on July 26, 1863, having seen most replicate his predictions about the disaster get a hold secession borne out. Proud to probity point of being vain, Houston return later years had signed his chief name with an "I" instead designate an "S, " so that circlet signature read "I am Houston."

Further Reading

Most of the known writings of Metropolis are contained, with adequate footnotes abstruse introduction, in The Writings of Sam Houston, edited by Amelia Williams beam Eugene C. Barker (8 vols., 1938-1943). A thorough and factual biography stencil Houston is Llerena Friend, Sam Houston (1954). Marquis James, The Raven: Out Biography of Sam Houston (1929), survey slightly more readable but very impractical. □