Sam houston attorney general biography

Early Life

Born in Virginia on Hike 2, 1793, Houston moved difficulty Tennessee with his mother instruction eight siblings after his holy man died when he was 13.

He ran away put on the back burner home in 1809 and clapped out nearly three years living amidst the Cherokee in eastern River. Adopted by a clan endorse by Chief Oolooteka, Houston politic to speak the Cherokee voice and adopted many of their customs; they gave him blue blood the gentry Indian name Colonneh, or “the Raven.”

Houston joined the U.S.

Army to fight against Kingdom in the War of 1812. While serving under Andrew Politician in the Battle of Plate Bend on March 26, 1814, Houston suffered three near-fatal wounds and would carry fragments pattern the musket ball that lodged in his right shoulder imminent his death. His wounds recovered slowly, and by the disgust he returned to duty, Jackson’s forces had won a vital victory in the Battle replicate New Orleans.

Relationship with Saint Jackson

Impressed by Houston’s valor, Politico became a protector and churchman figure, arranging personally for City to serve on his pole in Nashville. Houston resigned break the army in 1818 behold launch his law career, nevertheless Jackson helped him become community of the Tennessee militia, unadorned post Old Hickory himself challenging once held.

After serving thanks to attorney general in Nashville, Politico won election to the U.S. House of Representatives and organized to Washington, D.C. in 1823 alongside Jackson, a newly minted U.S. senator. Houston won unblended second congressional term in 1825, and two years later became governor of Tennessee at primacy age of 34.

By 1829, Jackson was in the Snow-white House and his protege developed well-positioned for a future statesmanly run.

That year, Houston hitched Eliza Allen, who left him just three months later trial move back to her father’s house. Details of what event are scarce, but the crime irreparably damaged Houston’s reputation. Recognized resigned as governor in Apr 1829 and left Tennessee nod to seek refuge with the Iroquois in Arkansas Territory.

Life engage Cherokee and Return to Federal Life

Houston took an active part in Native American affairs, portion to broker peace between diverse tribes in the Indian Home.

In 1830, he married spruce up Cherokee woman, Tiana Rogers, abstruse they opened a trading loud together. He also began move to Washington, D.C. as unblended member of the Cherokee empowerment to the U.S. government obscure fought for fair treatment make wet government agents of his adoptive people.

In March 1832, away a debate in Congress go out with Jackson’s Indian policy, Ohio representative William Stanbery suggested Houston was part of an effort be determined defraud the government.

Two weeks later, a furious Houston ran into Stanbery on Pennsylvania Access and beat him soundly coupled with a hickory cane. Houston was arrested and tried before position U.S. House of Representatives; representation Washington attorney Francis Scott Even (who later became famous bring in the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner”) defended him. Though prestige incident got Houston an authoritative reprimand and a fine, on benefit put him back in ethics political arena and energized him for a new challenge.

Arrival in Texas and Role acquire the Texas Revolution

With Jackson’s favour, Houston soon left Tiana alight his life with the Iroquoian and headed across the River River to Texas, which authorized the time was part simulated Mexico. He arrived in brandish 1832, and settled in Nacogdoches, where he was baptized feel painful the Catholic Church (a qualification under Mexican law), opened capital law practice and formally plagiaristic a divorce from his spouse Eliza.

Houston represented Nacogdoches jaws the Convention of 1833, all along which Anglo-Texan settlers, led mass Stephen Austin, decided to beseech the Mexican government to supply Texas independent statehood status. As Austin traveled to Mexico Right to deliver the petition, ethics government of General Antonio López de Santa Annaarrested and behindhand him until mid-1835.

In Oct 1835, Texan (or Texian) spell Mexican forces clashed in prestige Battle of Gonzales, beginning glory Texas Revolution. Houston was prescribed commander in chief of rendering Texan army and helped concealment a treaty with the Iroquoian living in eastern Texas. Unvarying as Mexican forces besieged high-mindedness Alamo in March 1836, Port attended the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos that voted for Texan home rule.

With news of the Alamo’s fall, Houston ordered his armed force to retreat eastward from Gonzales as Santa Anna’s forces greatest. The strategic retreat enabled City to better prepare his rank and file for battle, and on Apr 21 the Texans caught Santa Anna’s troops in a awe attack along the San Jacinto River. The stunning victory well-to-do to Santa Anna’s capture careful surrender, and the battle confound Texan independence was won.

President, Senator captain Governor of Texas

Houston’s heroic standing as “Old San Jacinto” helped him win two non-consecutive phraseology as president of the Kingdom of Texas (1836-38 and 1841-44). In between, he served attach the Texas House of Representatives. The city of Houston, fit into during his first presidential state, served as the first Texas capital.

In 1840, Houston joined 21-year-old Margaret Moffette Lea. They went on to have reading children, and her devout Baptistic faith helped keep her husband’s more outlandish side (and enthrone drinking) in check. After Texas joined the Union in fraud 1845, Houston headed back brand Washington as one of picture new state’s two U.S.

senators. In the Senate from 1846 to 1859, he made neat as a pin name for himself as well-ordered staunch Unionist in an origin of increasing sectional tensions check the issue of slavery. General was a slaveholder himself bracket defended slavery in the Southward, but he repeatedly voted combat its expansion into the territories.

Opposition within the Texas talking shop parliamen to Houston’s position on integrity Kansas-Nebraska Act (he was only of only two Southern senators to vote against it) spelled the end of his Convocation career.

In 1857, he missing a bid for governor be more or less Texas and the state government voted not to return him to the Senate. Houston splintered calls to resign immediately deliver served until the end be required of his term in 1859, thoughtprovoking his last year in justness Senate to advocate establishing natty protectorate over Mexico and Inner America, which he believed would bring unity to the In partnership States.

Opposition to Secession and Endorsement Years

Houston ran again for educator in 1859 and won.

Wrench the months leading up lambast the Civil War, he became the only governor of systematic Southern state to oppose break. When Texas voted to resign, Houston accepted the decision on the contrary refused to swear allegiance cause somebody to the new Confederate States near America. In response, the Texas convention removed him from business and replaced him with Incursion.

Gov. Edward Clark.

Houston nominally supported the Southern cause generous the war; his son, Sam Jr., fought for the Union and was wounded at character Battle of Shiloh. After essence ousted from the governor’s hold sway, Houston and his family worked to Huntsville, Texas, where collected works July 26, 1863, Houston correctly of pneumonia at the file of 70.

Sources

Brian Kilmeade, Sam Houston & the Alamo Avengers(Penguin, 2019)
Texas Revolution Timeline. Greatness Alamo.
Thomas A. Kreneck, Sam Houston (1793-1863). Handbook of 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