Who was Sam Houston? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 70

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Diana Rogers Gentry, Eliza Allen, Margaret Moffette Lee

father: Major Samuel Houston

mother: Elizabeth Paxton

children: Andrew Jackson Houston, Antoinette Power, Jr., Margaret, Mary William, Nancy Elizabeth, Sam Houston, Temple Lea Houston, William Rogers

Political Leaders American Men

political ideology: Democratic Party

Died on: July 26, 1863

place of death: Huntsville, Texas, United States

U.S. State: Virginia

Ancestry: American Mexican

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Childhood & Early Life

He was the son of Samuel Houston and Elizabeth Paxton. His father was a member of Morgan’s Rifle Brigade and was commissioned as a Major during the American Revolutionary War. He had eight siblings.

His father died in 1807 and his mother took the children to eastern Tennessee. He was made to work as a shop clerk at his older brothers’ store which left the teenager dissatisfied; he ran away from home in 1809 at the age of 16.

He went to live with the Cherokee tribe whose leader welcomed him with open arms and became like an adoptive father to the young Sam. He learnt about the lifestyle of the tribal people and also became fluent in their language.

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Career

He enlisted in the 39th Infantry Regiment in 1812 to fight the British in the War of 1812. Within a few months he rose from the tank of a private to third lieutenant.

While fighting at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814 he was badly wounded but had his injuries bandaged and rejoined the war. He served under Andrew Jackson who was greatly impressed by Houston’s bravery and valor.

After the war, Jackson had him appointed as an Indian agent to the Cherokee. However, some differences with John C. Calhoun, the Secretary of War, led to his resignation in 1818.

He began studying law at the office of Judge James Trimble and passed the bar exam; he was appointed as the local prosecutor in Nashville in 1818.

He was elected into the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee in 1822 where he strongly supported Andrew Jackson who was a Democrat. Houston was a Congressman from 1823 to 1827.

He went to Washington, DC, in 1830 and 1833 to expose the frauds which government agents had committed against the Cherokee. During this period, anti-Jacksonian Congressman William Stanbery accused Houston on some grounds for which he was found guilty. He was told to pay $500 in damages but he left the U.S. for Mexico without paying this amount.

He went to Texas and became a supporter of William Harris Wharton who advocated independence from Mexico. He was commissioned as the Major General in Texas Army in 1835.

He served as the Commander-in-Chief at the 1836 convention to declare Texan independence. He signed the Texas Declaration of Independence on 2 March 1836.

He served as the president of the Republic of Texas twice. In his first term, he served from October 1836 to December 1838 while in his second term he served from December 1841 to December 1844.

The U.S. annexed Texas in 1845 and Houston was elected to the U.S. Senate along with Thomas Jefferson Rusk. He served from February 1846 till March 1859.

Major Achievements

He is best known for playing a major role in establishing the independence of Texas by signing the Texas Declaration of Independence. He also served as the President of the Republic of Texas twice.

Personal Life & Legacy

His first marriage was to Eliza Allen in 1829 when Houston was 35 and the girl just 19. Eliza was unhappy with this marriage and left him soon after.

He later married Tiana Rogers, a Cherokee woman in Arkansas territory. He had one child with her. Their marriage ended when his wife refused to accompany him to Texas.

He married for the third time in 1840. His wife was Margaret Moffette Lea who was much younger than him. Their marriage produced eight children. Houston, who had a problem of excessive drinking finally gave up this habit at the persuasion of his wife.

He developed a persistent cough in 1863 and suffered from a bout of pneumonia which led to his death at the age of 70.

Sam Houston Biography