Samuel Houston (1793–1863) was born in Virginia to a family of nine children. His father was a U.S. Army officer who neglected the family plantation and when he died, the family was left with little money. Houston’s mother moved the family to Tennessee, but Samuel was unhappy living under the rules of his older brothers and left home when he was seventeen to live with the Cherokee. He lived on Hiwassie Island for three years learning the Cherokee language and customs.
Houston’s Early Military Career
Houston joined the U.S. Army in 1813 and was quickly promoted to ensign, then offered a commission as a third lieutenant. He was wounded at the battle of Horseshoe Bay, but continued to fight. His bravery impressed Andrew Jackson who appointed Houston to the position of Indian Agent to the Cherokee in 1817. When he learned that the Cherokee were not receiving promised annuities, Houston led a delegation to Washington. He appeared before the Secretary of War in Cherokee clothing and was highly criticized for this act. He was also accused of slave-smuggling. Following a lengthy investigation, Houston’s accusers were found to be the culprits, but Houston was insulted because he never received an apology and he resigned from the Army.
Politics, Marriage and Scandal
Houston returned to Tennessee to study and practice law. He was elected to the office of District Attorney in Nashville, and in 1823 was elected to Congress. He was reelected in 1825 and in 1827 was made Governor of Tennessee. During his re-election campaign he married his first wife, Eliza Allen, but the marriage only lasted three months and their separation became a public scandal fueled by Houston’s refusal to comment. In April 1829, Houston resigned and moved to Arkansas to rejoin the Cherokee.
Texas and the Battle for Independence
In 1833, Houston settled in Nacogdoches, Texas. When the Texas Revolution started he was made commander of the volunteer Texas Army. The March 27, 1836 Goliad Massacre of nearly 400 Texian prisoners on the order of Santa Anna greatly angered Houston and his army, and the deaths of the men at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836 intensified the determination of Houston and his men to win the war. On April 21, 1836, Houston’s army surprised General Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto and Santa Anna was forced to sign the Treaties of Velasco bringing an end to hostilities and granting independence to Texas. Houston was elected president of the Republic of Texas on September 5, 1836, serving from October 22, 1836 to December 10, 1838, and again from December 12, 1841 to December 9, 1844.
The Children of Sam Houston
On May 9, 1840, when he was 47, Sam Houston married 21 year old Margaret Moffette Lea (1819-1867). Sam and Margaret Houston raised eight children together, primarily at their Cedar Point home at Trinity Bay on the northeast portion of Galveston Bay, Texas.
Senator and Governor
In 1845, Texas was annexed into the United States and Houston was elected to the Senate. In 1859 he was elected Governor of the State of Texas, making him the only person in United States history to be the governor of two different states, and the only governor who served as a foreign head of state.
The American Civil War
As Governor of Texas, Houston was deeply concerned that seceding from the Union would mean the death of many Texans and greatly damage the Texas economy. He fought unsuccessfully to keep Texas from seceding and was evicted from office on March 16, 1861 for refusing to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy. Abraham Lincoln offered the assistance of Union troops to prevent Texas from seceding, but Houston declined the offer and chose instead to retire quietly to his family farm in Huntsville, Texas.
The Death of Sam Houston and His Legacy
Sam Houston died, and was buried, in Huntsville, Texas in 1863. Huntsville, Texas is also the location of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Sam Houston State University. There are numerous cities in the United States with streets, schools and parks dedicated to Sam Houston, such as Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston, Texas and Fort Sam Houston Army Base in Alamo City, Texas.
Sources:
Nevin, David. The Old West: The Texans. Time Life Books. Canada: 1975.
"Sam Houston" The Handbook of Texas Online.
“Sam Houston.” PBS-New Perspectives on The West.
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