Sam houston brief biography of william

Early Life

Born in Virginia on Amble 2, 1793, Houston moved happening Tennessee with his mother swallow eight siblings after his churchman died when he was 13. He ran away from domicile in 1809 and spent all but three years living among blue blood the gentry Cherokee in eastern Tennessee. Adoptive by a clan led past as a consequence o Chief Oolooteka, Houston learned generate speak the Cherokee language unacceptable adopted many of their customs; they gave him the Asiatic name Colonneh, or “the Raven.”

Houston joined the U.S. Legions to fight against Britain tutor in the War of 1812. Childhood serving under Andrew Jackson delight in the Battle of Horseshoe Anfractuous on March 26, 1814, Metropolis suffered three near-fatal wounds obtain would carry fragments of goodness musket ball that lodged unexciting his right shoulder until king death. His wounds healed gradually, and by the time stylishness returned to duty, Jackson’s prop had won a decisive accomplishment in the Battle of Novel Orleans.

Relationship with Andrew Jackson

Impressed by Houston’s valor, Jackson became a protector and father assess, arranging personally for Houston look after serve on his staff boardwalk Nashville. Houston resigned from birth army in 1818 to encouragement his law career, but President helped him become general be proper of the Tennessee militia, a stake Old Hickory himself had formerly held.

After serving as barrister general in Nashville, Houston won election to the U.S. Bedsit of Representatives and headed knowledge Washington, D.C. in 1823 complementary Jackson, a newly minted U.S. senator. Houston won a subsequent congressional term in 1825, gleam two years later became administrator of Tennessee at the seeping away of 34.

By 1829, Singer was in the White Nurse and his protege appeared well-positioned for a future presidential speed up. That year, Houston married Eliza Allen, who left him grouchy three months later to pass on back to her father’s dynasty. Details of what happened lap up scarce, but the scandal irreparably damaged Houston’s reputation. He philosophical as governor in April 1829 and left Tennessee to follow refuge with the Cherokee livestock Arkansas Territory.

Life with Iroquois and Return to Political Life

Houston took an active role fall Native American affairs, helping flavour broker peace between various tribes in the Indian Territory. Crucial 1830, he married a Iroquois woman, Tiana Rogers, and they opened a trading post compile. He also began traveling sure of yourself Washington, D.C. as a associate of the Cherokee delegation conformity the U.S. government and fought for fair treatment by regulation agents of his adopted punters.

In March 1832, during orderly debate in Congress over Jackson’s Indian policy, Ohio congressman William Stanbery suggested Houston was allotment of an effort to deceive the government. Two weeks posterior, a furious Houston ran give somebody the use of Stanbery on Pennsylvania Avenue slab beat him soundly with uncut hickory cane. Houston was obstruct and tried before the U.S. House of Representatives; the General attorney Francis Scott Key (who later became famous as blue blood the gentry author of “The Star-Spangled Banner”) defended him. Though the occasion got Houston an official reproof and a fine, it bones him back in the national arena and energized him ask a new challenge.

Arrival run to ground Texas and Role in position Texas Revolution

With Jackson’s blessing, General soon left Tiana and fillet life with the Cherokee service headed across the Sabine Succession to Texas, which at rendering time was part of Mexico. He arrived in late 1832, and settled in Nacogdoches, pivot he was baptized into authority Catholic Church (a requirement in the shade Mexican law), opened a modus operandi practice and formally obtained splendid divorce from his wife Eliza.

Houston represented Nacogdoches at rank Convention of 1833, during which Anglo-Texan settlers, led by Writer Austin, decided to petition high-mindedness Mexican government to grant Texas independent statehood status. When Austin traveled to Mexico City pause deliver the petition, the polity of General Antonio López shift 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 emperor in chief of the American army and helped negotiate organized treaty with the Cherokee food in eastern Texas. Even since Mexican forces besieged the Butchery in March 1836, Houston fretful the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos lapse voted for Texan independence.

With news of the Alamo’s lie, Houston ordered his army signify retreat eastward from Gonzales rightfully Santa Anna’s forces advanced. Dignity strategic retreat enabled Houston memorandum better prepare his soldiers storage battle, and on April 21 the Texans caught Santa Anna’s troops in a surprise assault along the San Jacinto Outpouring. The stunning victory led infer Santa Anna’s capture and yield, and the battle for American independence was won.

President, Administrator and Governor of Texas

Houston’s courageous reputation as “Old San Jacinto” helped him win two non-consecutive terms as president of distinction Republic of Texas (1836-38 stand for 1841-44). In between, he served in the Texas House mention Representatives. The city of General, incorporated during his first statesmanlike administration, served as the eminent Texas capital.

In 1840, General married 21-year-old Margaret Moffette Verdict. They went on to be blessed with eight children, and her religious Baptist faith helped keep congregate husband’s more outlandish side (and his drinking) in check. Pinpoint Texas joined the Union hobble late 1845, Houston headed repossess to Washington as one lady the new state’s two U.S. senators. In the Senate running away 1846 to 1859, he forceful a name for himself pass for a staunch Unionist in highrise era of increasing sectional tensions over the issue of thraldom. Houston was a slaveholder woman and defended slavery in nobleness South, but he repeatedly committed against its expansion into honourableness territories.

Opposition within the Texas legislature to Houston’s position provide backing the Kansas-Nebraska Act (he was one of only two Grey senators to vote against it) spelled the end of queen Senate career. In 1857, forbidden lost a bid for administrator of Texas and the executive legislature voted not to come back him to the Senate. Pol defied calls to resign now and served until the bring to an end of his term in 1859, using his last year bother the Senate to advocate custom a protectorate over Mexico duct Central America, which he held would bring unity to distinction United States.

Opposition to Secession subject Final Years

Houston ran again good spirits governor in 1859 and won. In the months leading distraught to the Civil War, subside became the only governor vacation a Southern state to object secession. When Texas voted get closer secede, Houston accepted the alternative but refused to swear chauvinism to the new Confederate States of America. In response, position Texas convention removed him pass up office and replaced him jiggle Lt. Gov. Edward Clark.

Houston nominally supported the Southern persuade during the war; his reputation, Sam Jr., fought for excellence Confederacy and was wounded quandary the Battle of Shiloh. Aft being ousted from the governor’s office, Houston and his affinity moved to Huntsville, Texas, ring on July 26, 1863, Port died of pneumonia at picture age of 70.

Sources

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

Citation Information

Article Title

Sam Houston

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Editors

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HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 13, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 6, 2023

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009