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Sam Houston, 1793-1863

Sam Houston was a soldier, statesman and a defining leader in the story of Texas. His commitment to service, principled leadership and the public good reflects the values of ¸£Àû¼§. From his early years in Tennessee to the Battle of San Jacinto and his later service as senator and governor, Houston’s life offers a model of courage, integrity and civic responsibility.

Legacy and Service

• U.S. Senator Texas Representative
• Governor Texas
• President Republic of Texas

A Life of Service and Strength

Early Life (1793–1813)

• Born March 2, 1793, to Major Sam Houston and Elizabeth Paxton Houston.
• Raised on a farm near Baker Creek, Tennessee.
• As a young man, lived among the Cherokee, an experience that shaped his worldview and diplomacy.

Army Career (1813–1818)

• Enlisted as a private in 1813; demonstrated notable courage in combat.
• Gained the respect of General Andrew Jackson.
• Resigned his U.S. Army commission in 1818 following false accusations regarding slave trading.
• Appointed Adjutant General of Tennessee with the rank of colonel.

Law & Politics (1819–1829)

• Passed the bar (1818) and began practicing law.
• Served as Attorney General of the Nashville District (1819–1821).
• Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (Democratic Party) in 1823 and 1825, each with unanimous support in his district.
• Elected Governor of Tennessee in 1827; resigned in 1829.

The Cherokee Years (1829–1831)

• After a brief marriage to Eliza Allen, Houston separated and moved west.
• Became a Cherokee citizen in 1829.
• Married Tiana (Diana Rogers Gentry) in 1830.

The Early Texas Years (1832–1841)

• Received land approval in Texas from Stephen F. Austin.
• Delegate to the Second Convention seeking separation from Coahuila y Tejas.
• Named Major General of the Texas Army in 1835.
• Attended the 1836 Constitutional Convention; Texas declared independence the next day—on his 43rd birthday.
• Led about 800 Texans to victory over a force of ~1,400 at the Battle of San Jacinto (April 21, 1836) in a decisive, ~20-minute engagement.
• With Santa Anna captured, an armistice followed.
• Elected first President of the Republic of Texas (Sept. 5, 1836).
• Married Margaret Lea in 1840 and was reelected President in 1841.

The Final Texas Years (1842–1863)

• Purchased property in Huntsville and built the Woodland Home (1847).
• Sworn in as U.S. Senator from Texas (1848); served three terms (1848–1859).
• Supported the Compromise of 1850, speaking in favor multiple times.
• Lost the 1857 gubernatorial race to Hardin R. Runnels; defeated him in 1859 to become Governor of Texas.
• In 1861, after Texas seceded from the Union, refused to take the Confederate oath and was removed from office.
• Died of pneumonia at the Steamboat House in Huntsville (1863).

Learn More About Sam Houston

Learn more at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library.

Contact

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1905 University Avenue
Huntsville, TX 77340
936.294.1111 | 866.BEARKAT