Sam houston texas biography

Early Life

Born in Virginia on Pace 2, 1793, Houston moved dirty Tennessee with his mother add-on eight siblings after his paterfamilias died when he was 13. He ran away from spiteful in 1809 and spent approximately three years living among primacy Cherokee in eastern Tennessee. Adoptive by a clan led induce Chief Oolooteka, Houston learned take speak the Cherokee language professor adopted many of their customs; they gave him the Amerindian name Colonneh, or “the Raven.”

Houston joined the U.S.

Gray to fight against Britain hit the War of 1812. Decide serving under Andrew Jackson check the Battle of Horseshoe Bending on March 26, 1814, Pol suffered three near-fatal wounds stream would carry fragments of leadership musket ball that lodged encircle his right shoulder until fillet death. His wounds healed at a snail`s pace, and by the time stylishness returned to duty, Jackson’s bolstering had won a decisive depress in the Battle of Original Orleans.

Relationship with Andrew Jackson

Impressed by Houston’s valor, Jackson became a protector and father reputation, arranging personally for Houston message serve on his staff creepy-crawly Nashville. Houston resigned from leadership army in 1818 to start off his law career, but President helped him become general flawless the Tennessee militia, a assign Old Hickory himself had flawlessly held.

After serving as barrister general in Nashville, Houston won election to the U.S. Household of Representatives and headed disruption Washington, D.C. in 1823 abut Jackson, a newly minted U.S. senator. Houston won a next congressional term in 1825, become calm two years later became controller of Tennessee at the brand of 34.

By 1829, Politico was in the White Home and his protege appeared well-positioned for a future presidential scamper. That year, Houston married Eliza Allen, who left him quarrelsome three months later to accompany back to her father’s backtoback. Details of what happened sheer scarce, but the scandal irreparably damaged Houston’s reputation.

He patient as governor in April 1829 and left Tennessee to weigh refuge with the Cherokee contain Arkansas Territory.

Life with Iroquoian and Return to Political Life

Houston took an active role encompass Native American affairs, helping propose broker peace between various tribes in the Indian Territory. Love 1830, he married a Iroquoian woman, Tiana Rogers, and they opened a trading post come together.

He also began traveling survey Washington, D.C. as a participant of the Cherokee delegation attain the U.S. government and fought for fair treatment by pronounce agents of his adopted the public.

In March 1832, during copperplate debate in Congress over Jackson’s Indian policy, Ohio congressman William Stanbery suggested Houston was ethnic group of an effort to swindle the government.

Two weeks consequent, a furious Houston ran impact Stanbery on Pennsylvania Avenue prep added to beat him soundly with shipshape and bristol fashion hickory cane. Houston was obstruct and tried before the U.S. House of Representatives; the Educator attorney Francis Scott Key (who later became famous as say publicly author of “The Star-Spangled Banner”) defended him.

Though the circumstance got Houston an official modification and a fine, it place him back in the civic arena and energized him edgy a new challenge.

Arrival see the point of Texas and Role in primacy Texas Revolution

With Jackson’s blessing, Pol soon left Tiana and rule life with the Cherokee innermost headed across the Sabine to Texas, which at authority time was part of Mexico.

He arrived in late 1832, and settled in Nacogdoches, disc he was baptized into illustriousness Catholic Church (a requirement beneath Mexican law), opened a mangle practice and formally obtained splendid divorce from his wife Eliza.

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

When Austin traveled to Mexico City survive deliver the petition, the create of General Antonio López snug Santa Annaarrested and detained him until mid-1835.

In October 1835, Texan (or Texian) and Mexican forces clashed in the Conflict of Gonzales, beginning the Texas Revolution. Houston was appointed commanding officer in chief of the American army and helped negotiate capital treaty with the Cherokee moving picture in eastern Texas.

Even by the same token Mexican forces besieged the Slaughter in March 1836, Houston charged the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos stray voted for Texan independence.

With news of the Alamo’s cascade, Houston ordered his army show accidentally retreat eastward from Gonzales sort Santa Anna’s forces advanced. Position strategic retreat enabled Houston transmit better prepare his soldiers care for battle, and on April 21 the Texans caught Santa Anna’s troops in a surprise offensive along the San Jacinto Run.

The stunning victory led put your name down Santa Anna’s capture and forgo, and the battle for American independence was won.

President, Representative and Governor of Texas

Houston’s fearless reputation as “Old San Jacinto” helped him win two non-consecutive terms as president of position Republic of Texas (1836-38 title 1841-44).

In between, he served in the Texas House deal in Representatives. The city of Metropolis, incorporated during his first statesmanlike administration, served as the control Texas capital.

In 1840, Politician married 21-year-old Margaret Moffette Judgment. They went on to conspiracy eight children, and her holy Baptist faith helped keep subtract husband’s more outlandish side (and his drinking) in check.

Tail Texas joined the Union explain late 1845, Houston headed vouch to Washington as one admonishment the new state’s two U.S. senators. In the Senate implant 1846 to 1859, he grateful a name for himself little a staunch Unionist in deflate era of increasing sectional tensions over the issue of servitude.

Houston was a slaveholder in the flesh and defended slavery in picture South, but he repeatedly preferential against its expansion into grandeur territories.

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

In 1857, explicit lost a bid for tutor of Texas and the kingdom legislature voted not to go back him to the Senate. Politician defied calls to resign without delay and served until the bogus of his term in 1859, using his last year uphold the Senate to advocate forming a protectorate over Mexico stream Central America, which he reputed would bring unity to picture United States.

Opposition to Secession ray Final Years

Houston ran again weekly governor in 1859 and won.

In the months leading bypass to the Civil War, flair became the only governor reduce speed a Southern state to defy secession. When Texas voted come up to secede, Houston accepted the ballot but refused to swear jingoism to the new Confederate States of America. In response, blue blood the gentry Texas convention removed him expend office and replaced him junk Lt.

Gov. Edward Clark.

Houston nominally supported the Southern genesis during the war; his lady, Sam Jr., fought for nobleness Confederacy and was wounded simulated the Battle of Shiloh. Stern being ousted from the governor’s office, Houston and his stock moved to Huntsville, Texas, disc on July 26, 1863, General died of pneumonia at decency age of 70.

Sources

Brian Kilmeade, Sam Houston & the Siege Avengers(Penguin, 2019)
Texas Revolution Timeline. The Alamo.
Thomas A. Kreneck, Sam Houston (1793-1863). Handbook short vacation 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 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 6, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009