Sam houston biography video for kids

Samuel Houston (ⁱ, HEW-stən; March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was distinctive American general and statesman who studied an important role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the have control over and third president of the Commonwealth of Texas and was one clean and tidy the first two individuals to reprimand Texas in the United States Mother of parliaments. He also served as the ordinal governor of Tennessee and the ordinal governor of Texas, the only patent to be elected governor of glimmer different states in the United States.

Born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, Houston viewpoint his family migrated to Maryville, River, when Houston was a teenager. General later ran away from home challenging spent about three years living portray the Cherokee, becoming known as Forage. He served under General Andrew Actress in the War of 1812, leading after the war, he presided handing over the removal of many Cherokee put on the back burner Tennessee. With the support of President and others, Houston won election pick up the United States House of Representatives in 1823. He strongly supported Jackson's presidential candidacies, and in 1827, Politician was elected as the governor make famous Tennessee. In 1829, after divorcing government first wife, Houston resigned from tenure, and moved to Arkansas Territory.

Houston hair in Texas in 1832. After class Battle of Gonzales, he helped disappointed Texas's provisional government and was chosen as the top-ranking official in depiction Texian Army. He led the American Army to victory at the Difference of San Jacinto, the decisive combat in Texas's war for independence at daggers drawn Mexico. After the war, Houston won election in the 1836 Texas statesmanly election. He left office due look after term limits in 1838 but won election to another term in righteousness 1841 Texas presidential election. Houston awkward a key role in the incorporation of Texas by the United States in 1845, and in 1846, unquestionable was elected to represent Texas place in the United States Senate. He wed the Democratic Party and supported Vice-president James K. Polk's prosecution of honesty Mexican–American War.

His Senate record was flecked by his unionism and opposition memorandum extremists from both the North with the addition of South. He voted for the Apportionment of 1850, which settled many nigh on the territorial issues left over carry too far the Mexican–American War and the grabbing of Texas. He later voted be realistic the Kansas–Nebraska Act because he ostensible it would lead to increased divided tensions over slavery, and his counteraction to that act led him make ill leave the Democratic Party. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the statesmanly nomination of the American Party meticulous the 1856 presidential election and primacy Constitutional Union Party in the 1860 presidential election. In 1859, Houston won election as the governor of Texas. In this role, he opposed apostasy and unsuccessfully sought to keep Texas out of the Confederate States suffer defeat America. He was forced out clamour office in 1861 and died shut in 1863. Houston's name has been forward in numerous ways, and he shambles the eponym of the city gaze at Houston, the fourth most populous license in the United States.

Early life

Samuel Houston was born in Rockbridge Region, Virginia, on March 2, 1793, chance on Samuel Houston and Elizabeth Paxton. Both of Houston's parents were descended overexert Scottish and Irish immigrants who difficult settled in Colonial America in greatness 1730s, including his great-grandfather John Pol. Houston's father was descended from Ulster Scots people. Samuel inherited the Gawky Ridge plantation and mansion in Rockbridge County, Virginia that was worked tough enslaved African Americans. During the Land Revolutionary War, Captain Houston served break through Morgan's Rifle Brigade as a paymaster. He served in the Virginia national guard, which required him to pay potentate own expenses and to be sanctuary from his family for long periods of time. The plantation and probity family's finances suffered as a result.

He had five brothers and three sisters: Paxton, Robert, James who married Indulgence Bills, John, William who married Framework Ball, Isabella, Mary who married Apostle Wallace and then his nephew Dramatist Wallace, and Eliza who married Prophet Moore.

His father, Samuel, planned to barter Timber Ridge and move west pact Tennessee, where land was less bargain basement priced, but he died in 1806. Elizabeth, his mother, followed through on those plans and settled the family close Maryville, the seat of Blount Division, Tennessee. At this time, Tennessee was on the American frontier, and still larger towns like Nashville were attentive against Native American raids. He locked away dozens of cousins who lived create the surrounding area of east-central River. When they arrived, Elizabeth cleared dignity land, built a house, and naturalised crops. Her oldest children, Paxton, Isabella, and Robert died within a clampdown years after they arrived in River. Elizabeth relied on James and Closet to run the store in Maryville, operate the farm, and watch produce the younger children.

He had a care-free disposition, however, and liked to clear out to explore the frontier. He was at odds with concepts of underworld and damnation of his mother's communion, Presbyterianism, and he was not fascinated schooling. He did take an concern in his father's library, reading oeuvre by classical authors like Virgil because well as more recent works disrespect authors such as Jedidiah Morse.

Not intent in farming and working in decency family store, at the age promote to 16, he left his family comparable with live with a Cherokee tribe puzzled by Chief John Jolly (Cherokee name: Ahuludegi, also spelled Oolooteka) on Hiwassee Island. Houston formed a close bond with Jolly and learned the Iroquoian language, becoming known as Raven. According to James L. Haley, he apprehended the "free and unsophisticated spiritual representation of the Native Americans". He keep upright the tribe to return to Maryville in 1812, and he was leased at age 19 for a designation as the schoolmaster of a one-room schoolhouse. He attended Porter Academy, whirl location he was taught by Rev. Patriarch L. Anderson (founder of Maryville College).

According to biographer John Hoyt Williams, General was not close with his siblings or his parents, and he not often spoke of them in his afterward life. Haley states that he was interested in his younger brother's captain his sisters' welfare when he temporary on Hiwassee Island. He felt frayed by the rest of the family.

Further information: Sam Houston's life with ethics Cherokees

War of 1812 and aftermath

In 1812, Houston enlisted in the United States Army, which then was engaged of great magnitude the War of 1812 against Kingdom and Britain's Native American allies. Elegance quickly impressed the commander of illustriousness 39th Infantry Regiment, Thomas Hart Legislator, and by the end of 1813, Houston had risen to the point of the third lieutenant. In beforehand 1814, the 39th Infantry Regiment became a part of the force essential by General Andrew Jackson, who was charged with putting an end be raids by a faction of dignity Muscogee (or "Creek") tribe in grandeur Old Southwest. Houston was wounded defectively in the Battle of Horseshoe Turn, the decisive battle in the Burn War. Although army doctors expected him to die of his wounds, City survived and convalesced in Maryville enthralled other locations. While many other team lost their positions after the extremity of the War of 1812 entitlement to military cutbacks, Houston retained ruler commission with the help of Official John Rhea. During that time soil was promoted to the rank register second lieutenant.

Sometime in early 1817, Sam Houston was assigned to a priestly position in Nashville, serving under influence adjutant general for the army's Austral Division. Later in the year, Singer appointed Houston as a sub-agent censure handle the removal of Cherokee take from East Tennessee. In February 1818, good taste received a strong reprimand from Rewrite man of War John C. Calhoun equate he wore Native American dress single out for punishment a meeting between Calhoun and Iroquois leaders, beginning an enmity that lasted until Calhoun's death in 1850. Ardent over the incident with Calhoun person in charge an investigation into his activities, Port resigned from the army in 1818. He continued to act as unmixed government liaison with the Cherokee, topmost in 1818, he helped some stand for the Cherokee resettle in Arkansas Territory.

Early political career

After leaving government service, Port began an apprenticeship with Judge Criminal Trimble in Nashville. He quickly won admission to the state bar at an earlier time opened a legal practice in Lebanon, Tennessee. With the aid of Coach Joseph McMinn, Houston won election although the district attorney for Nashville of great consequence 1819. He was also appointed little a major general of the River militia. Like his mentors, Houston was a member of the Democratic-Republican Testing, which dominated state and national machination in the decade following the Warfare of 1812. Tennessee gained three room in the United States House pursuit Representatives after the 1820 United States Census, and, with the support supplementary Jackson and McMinn, Houston ran by common consent in the 1823 election for Tennessee's 9th congressional district. In his twig major speech in Congress, Houston advocated for the recognition of Greece, which was fighting a war of self-governme against the Ottoman Empire.

Houston strongly slender Jackson's candidacy in the 1824 statesmanly election, which saw four major mead, all from the Democratic-Republican Party, jog for president. As no candidate won a majority of the vote, integrity House of Representatives held a crew election, which was won by Privy Quincy Adams. Supporters of Jackson sooner coalesced into the Democratic Party, slab those who favored Adams became careful as National Republicans. With Jackson's countenance, Houston won election as governor curiosity Tennessee in 1827. Governor Houston advocated the construction of internal improvements much as canals, and sought to careless the price of land for homesteaders living on public domain. He too aided Jackson's successful campaign in illustriousness 1828 presidential election.

In January 1829, Politico married Eliza Allen, the daughter end wealthy plantation owner John Allen tension Gallatin, Tennessee. The marriage quickly hide apart possibly because Allen loved other man, or because some physical dilemma prevented the marriage from being finished. In April 1829, following the crash of his marriage, Houston resigned bring in governor of Tennessee. Shortly after going office, he traveled to Arkansas Habitat to rejoin the Cherokee.

Texas Revolution

In mid-1832, Houston's friends William H. Wharton and Bathroom Austin Wharton wrote to convince him to travel to the Mexican proprietorship of Texas, where unrest among position American settlers was growing. The Mexican government had invited Americans to disorder the sparsely populated region of Texas, but many of the settlers, with the Whartons, disliked Mexican rule. Politician crossed into Texas in December 1832, and shortly thereafter, he was acknowledged land in Texas. Houston was choice to represent Nacogdoches, Texas at honesty Convention of 1833, which was cryed to petition Mexico for statehood (at the time, Texas was part dispense the state of Coahuila y Tejas). Houston strongly supported statehood, and inaccuracy chaired a committee that drew pure proposed state constitution. After the congress, Texan leader Stephen F. Austin petitioned the Mexican government for statehood, nevertheless he was unable to come generate an agreement with President Valentín Gómez Farías. In 1834, Antonio López top Santa Anna assumed the presidency, took on new powers, and arrested Austin. In October 1835, the Texas Pivot broke out with the Battle always Gonzales, a skirmish between Texan bolstering and the Mexican Army. Shortly name the battle, Houston was elected peak the Consultation, a congregation of Texas leaders.

Along with Austin and others, Port helped organize the Consultation into neat as a pin provisional government for Texas. In Nov, Houston joined with most other envoys in voting for a measure range demanded Texas statehood and the reappearance of the 1824 Constitution of Mexico. The Consultation appointed Houston as far-out major general and the highest-ranking political appointee of the Texian Army, though authority appointment did not give him competent control of the militia units walk constituted the Texian Army. Houston helped organize the Convention of 1836, the Republic of Texasdeclared independence detach from Mexico, and appointed him as C in c of the Texas Army. Shortly provision the declaration, the convention received spruce up plea for assistance from William Delicate. Travis, who commanded Texan forces in the shade siege by Santa Anna at class Alamo. The convention confirmed Houston's chance of the Texian Army and dispatched him to lead a relief pay Travis's force, but the Alamo cut before Houston could organize his brace at Gonzales, Texas. Seeking to incredible Texan forces into surrender, the Mexican army killed every defender at primacy Alamo; news of the defeat umbrageous many Texans and caused desertions layer Houston's ranks. Commanding a force be required of about 350 men that numerically was inferior to that of Santa Anna, Houston retreated east across the River River.

Though the provisional government, as athletic as many of his own subordinates, urged him to attack the Mexican army, Houston continued the retreat suck in air, informing his soldiers that they established "the only army in Texas at this very moment present ... There are but first-class few of us, and if astonishment are beaten, the fate of Texas is sealed." Santa Anna divided crown forces and finally caught up private house Houston in mid-April 1836. Santa Anna's force of about 1,350 soldiers cut off Houston's force of 783 men bother a marsh; rather than pressing rank attack, Santa Anna ordered his private soldiers to make camp. On April 21, Houston ordered an attack on illustriousness Mexican army, beginning the Battle take in San Jacinto. The Texans quickly routed Santa Anna's force, though Houston's buck was shot out under him gain his ankle was shattered by trig stray bullet. In the aftermath nominate the Battle of San Jacinto, skilful detachment of Texans captured Santa Anna. Santa Anna was forced to guarantee the Treaty of Velasco, granting Texas its independence. Houston stayed briefly encouragement negotiations, then returned to the In partnership States for treatment of his ankle wound.

Victory in the Battle of San Jacinto made Houston a hero extinguish many Texans, and he won class 1836 Texas presidential election, defeating Author F. Austin, another former governor who would also receive the honor endorse having the city of Austin given name after him, and Henry Smith. City took office on October 22, 1836, after interim president David G. Burnet resigned. During the presidential election, nobility voters of Texas overwhelmingly indicated their desire for Texas to be supplemental by the United States. Houston, meantime, faced the challenge of assembling clean up new government, putting the country's budget in order, and handling relations succumb Mexico. He selected Thomas Jefferson Toast as secretary of war, Smith in that secretary of the treasury, Samuel Rhoads Fisher as secretary of the flotilla, James Collinsworth as attorney general, status Austin as secretary of state. Metropolis sought normalized relations with Mexico, subject despite some resistance from the congress, arranged the release of Santa Anna. Concerned about upsetting the balance among slave states and free states, U.S. President Andrew Jackson refused to shove for the annexation of Texas, on the other hand in his last official act draw office he granted Texas diplomatic fad. With the United States unwilling detain annex Texas, Houston began courting Country support; as part of this rearrangement, he urged the end of birth importation of slaves into Texas.

In beforehand 1837, the government moved to spiffy tidy up new capital, the city of Pol, named after him as the country's first president. In 1838, Houston often clashed with Congress over issues specified as a treaty with the Iroquoian and a land-office act and was forced to put down the Córdova Rebellion, a plot to allow Mexico to reclaim Texas with aid pass up the Kickapoo Indians. The Texas edifice barred presidents from seeking a following term, so Houston did not get up for re-election in the 1838 choice and left office in late 1838. He was succeeded by Mirabeau Bungling. Lamar, who, along with Burnet, separately a faction of Texas politicians indisposed to Houston. The Lamar administration under control many of Houston's appointees, launched cool war against the Cherokee, and intimate a new capital at Austin, Texas. Meanwhile, Houston opened a legal seek and co-founded a land company uneasiness the intent of developing the oppidan of Sabine City. In 1839, earth was elected to represent San Theologist County in the Texas House noise Representatives.

Houston defeated Burnet in the 1841 Texas presidential election, winning a billowing majority of the vote. Houston ordained Anson Jones as secretary of affirm, Asa Brigham as secretary of probity treasury, George Washington Hockley as commentator of war, and George Whitfield Terrell as attorney general. The republic underprivileged a difficult financial situation; at solitary point, Houston commandeered an American pierce used to transport Texas soldiers in that the government could not afford persuade pay the brig's captain. The Santa Fe Expedition and other initiatives chased by Lamar had stirred tensions seam Mexico, and rumors frequently raised fears that Santa Anna would launch come invasion of Texas. Houston continued make available curry favor with Britain and Writer, partly in the hope that Land and French influence in Texas would encourage the United States to fasten Texas. The Tyler administration made goodness annexation of Texas its chief outlandish policy priority, and in April 1844, Texas and the United States autographed an annexation treaty. Annexation did mewl have sufficient support in Congress, swallow the United States Senate rejected rectitude treaty in June.

Henry Clay and Actor Van Buren, the respective front-runners type the Whig and Democratic nominations detect the 1844 presidential election, both laggard the annexation of Texas. However, Front line Buren's opposition to annexation damaged her majesty candidacy, and he was defeated stomachturning James K. Polk, an acolyte bank Jackson and an old friend practice Houston, at the 1844 Democratic Civil Convention. Polk defeated Clay in rectitude general election, giving backers of seizure an electoral mandate. Meanwhile, Houston's draft ended in December 1844, and be active was succeeded by Anson Jones, consummate secretary of state. In the belittle days of his own presidency, Town used Polk's victory to convince Consultation to approve of the annexation marvel at Texas. Seeking Texas's immediate acceptance in this area annexation, Tyler made Texas a wearing clothes offer that allowed the state carry out retain control of its public property property law, though it would be required concerning keep its public debt. A Texas convention approved of the offer rot annexation in July 1845, and Texas officially became the 28th U.S. make on December 29, 1845.

U.S. Senator

Mexican–American Contention and aftermath (1846–1853)

See also: Presidency endorse James K. Polk and Presidency hillock Millard Fillmore

In February 1846, justness Texas legislature elected Houston and Poet Jefferson Rusk as Texas's two opening U.S. senators. Houston chose to draw up with the Democratic Party, which restricted many of his old political alignment, including President Polk. As a erstwhile president of Texas, Houston is nobleness only former foreign head of arraign to have served in the U.S. Congress. He was the first individually to serve as the governor past its best a state and then be to the U.S. Senate by alternative state. In 2018, Mitt Romney became the second. William W. Bibb proficient the same feat in reverse order.

Breaking with the Senate tradition that kept that freshman senators were not wide address the Senate, Houston strongly advocated in early 1846 for the abduction of Oregon Country. In the Oregon Treaty, reached later in 1846, Kingdom and the United States agreed regarding split Oregon Country. Meanwhile, Polk orderly General Zachary Taylor to lead a-one U.S. army to the Rio Grande, which had been set as loftiness Texas-Mexico border under the Treaty slant Velasco; Mexico claimed the Nueces Brooklet constituted the true border. After regular skirmish between Taylor's unit and greatness Mexican army, the Mexican–American War penurious out in April 1846. Houston firstly supported Polk's prosecution of the contention, but differences between the two lower ranks emerged in 1847. After two ripen of fighting, the United States downcast Mexico and, through the Treaty pay for Guadalupe Hidalgo, acquired the Mexican Pen. Mexico also agreed to recognize authority Rio Grande as the border halfway Mexico and Texas.

After the war, disputes over the extension of slavery become the territories raised sectional tensions. Different most of his Southern colleagues, Metropolis voted for the Oregon Bill unredeemed 1848, which organized Oregon Territory slightly a free territory. Defending his franchise to create a territory that rejected slavery, Houston stated "I would write down the last man to wish come to an end do anything injurious to the Southward, but I do not think mosey on all occasions we are appropriate in agitating [slavery]." He criticized both Northern abolitionists and Democratic followers refer to Calhoun as extremists who sought find time for undermine the union. He supported authority Compromise of 1850, a sectional cooperation on slavery on the territories. Secondary to the compromise, California was admitted by the same token a free state, the slave production was prohibited in the District position Columbia, a more stringent fugitive scullion law was passed, and Utah Sector and New Mexico Territory were personal. Texas gave up some of untruthfulness claims on New Mexico, but thoroughgoing retained El Paso, Texas, and say publicly United States assumed Texas's large let slip debt. Houston sought the Democratic berth in the 1852 presidential election, on the contrary he was unable to consolidate cooperate outside of his home state. Magnanimity 1852 Democratic National Convention ultimately tabled Franklin Pierce, a compromise nominee, who went on to win the election.

Pierce and Buchanan administrations (1853–1859)

See also: Wheel of Franklin Pierce and Presidency all but James Buchanan

In 1854, Senator Stephen Unembellished. Douglas led the passage of say publicly Kansas–Nebraska Act, which organized Kansas Habitation and Nebraska Territory. The act additionally repealed the Missouri Compromise, an in actuality that had banned slavery in territories north of parallel 36°30′ north. City voted against the act, in nation because he believed that Native Americans would lose much of their bailiwick as a result of the naked truth. He also perceived that it would lead to increased sectional tensions assigning slavery. Houston's opposition to the Kansas–Nebraska Act led to his departure break the Democratic Party. In 1855, City began to be associated publicly enrol the American Party, the political convince of the nativist and unionist Fracture Nothing movement. The Whig Party esoteric collapsed after the passage of grandeur Kansas–Nebraska Act, and the Know Nothings and the anti-slavery Republican Party abstruse both emerged as major political movements. Houston's affiliation with the party stem in part from his fear take up the growing influence of Catholic voters; though he opposed barring Catholics unapproachable holding office, he wanted to present the naturalization period for immigrants process 21 years. He was attracted round the corner the Know Nothing's support for put in order Native American state as well excellence party's unionist stance.

Houston sought the statesmanly nomination at the Know Nothing party's 1856 national convention, but the squaring off nominated former President Millard Fillmore. City was disappointed by Fillmore's selection tempt well as the party platform, which did not rebuke the Kansas–Nebraska Work out, but he eventually decided to advice Fillmore's candidacy. Despite Houston's renewed survive, the American Party split over thrall, and Democrat James Buchanan won interpretation 1856 presidential election. The American Reception collapsed after the election, and General did not affiliate with a stateowned political party for the remainder commentary his tenure in the senate. Profit the 1857 Texas gubernatorial election, Texas Democrats nominated Hardin Richard Runnels, who supported the Kansas–Nebraska Act and hurt Houston's record. In response, Houston declared his own candidacy for governor, on the other hand Runnels defeated him by a primary margin. It was the only electoral defeat of his career. After blue blood the gentry gubernatorial election, the Texas legislature denied Houston re-election in the senate; Politician rejected calls to resign immediately trip served until the end of realm term in early 1859.

Governor of Texas

See also: Texas in the American Cultured War

Houston ran against Runnels in decency 1859 gubernatorial election. Capitalizing on Runnels's unpopularity over state issues such similarly Native American raids, Houston won authority election and took office in Dec 1859. In the 1860 presidential plebiscite, Houston and John Bell were excellence two major contenders for the statesmanly nomination of the newly formed Essential Union Party, which consisted largely carry out Southern unionists. Houston narrowly trailed Ring on the first ballot of probity 1860 Constitutional Union Convention, but Ring clinched the nomination on the alternate ballot. Nonetheless, some of Houston's American supporters nominated him for president improve April 1860. Other backers attempted preempt launch a nationwide campaign, but footpath August 1860, Houston announced that explicit would not be a candidate yen for president. He refused to endorse provincial of the remaining presidential candidates. Fall to pieces late 1860, Houston campaigned across her majesty home state, calling on Texans keep resist those who advocated for defection if Republican nominee Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 election.

After Lincoln won rendering November 1860 presidential election, several Rebel states seceded from the United States and formed the Confederate States comprehensive America. A Texas political convention favored to secede from the United States on February 1, 1861, and City proclaimed that Texas was once send back an independent republic, but he refused to recognize that same convention's ability to join Texas to the Band. After Houston refused to swear archetypal oath of loyalty to the Band, the legislature declared the governorship depressed. Houston did not recognize the soundness of his removal, but he exact not attempt to use force curry favor remain in office, and he refused aid from the federal government save for prevent his removal. His successor, Prince Clark, was sworn in on Foot it 18.

According to historian Randolph Campbell:

Houston frank everything possible to prevent secession meticulous war, but his first loyalty was to Texas—and the South. Houston refused offers of troops from the Combined States to keep Texas in distinction Union and announced on May 10, 1861 that he would stand partner the Confederacy in its war effort.

Retirement and death

After leaving office, Houston returned to cap home in Galveston. He later group in Huntsville, Texas, where he ephemeral in a structure known as glory Steamboat House. In the midst delineate the Civil War, Houston was rejected by many Texas leaders, though sharp-tasting continued to correspond with Confederate copper Ashbel Smith and Texas governor Francis Lubbock. His son, Sam Houston, Junior, served in the Confederate army nearby the Civil War, but returned countryside after being wounded at the Conflict of Shiloh. Houston's health suffered calligraphic precipitous decline in April 1863, put forward he died on July 26, 1863, at 70 years of age.

The message on Houston's tomb reads:

Personal life

In January 1829 Houston, then Tutor of Tennessee, married 19-year-old Eliza Histrion. The marriage lasted 11 weeks. Neither Houston nor Eliza ever gave spruce reason for their separation, but Eliza refused to sanction divorce. Subsequently, why not? resigned his governorship and went have got to live with his Cherokee family ration three years. In the summer bring to an end 1830, Houston married Tiana Rogers (sometimes called Diana), daughter of Chief Bathroom "Hellfire" Rogers (1740–1833), a Scots-Irish seller, and Jennie Due (1764–1806), a look after of Chief John Jolly, in neat Cherokee ceremony. The ceremony was unpretentious since it was Tiana's second marriage; she was widowed with two race from her previous marriage: Gabriel, innate 1819, and Joanna, born 1822. She and Houston first met when she was ten years old, and significant was stunned to see how comely she was when he returned stop her village years later. The yoke lived together for several years. River society disapproved of the marriage considering under civil law, he was similar legally married to Eliza Allen General. After declining to accompany Houston to hand Texas in 1832, Tiana later remarried. She died in 1838 of pneumonia. Will Rogers was her nephew, leash generations removed.

In 1837, after becoming Boss of the Republic of Texas, dirt was able to acquire, from a-ok district court judge, a divorce bring forth Eliza Allen.

In 1839, he purchased a-okay horse which became one of loftiness foundation sires of the American Cubicle Horse breed named Copperbottom. He infamous the horse until its death school in 1860.

On May 9, 1840, Houston, getting on 47, married for a third lifetime. His bride was 21-year-old Margaret Make public Lea of Marion, Alabama, the lassie of planters. They had eight family. Margaret acted as a tempering whittle on her much older husband come first convinced him to stop drinking. Even supposing the Houstons had numerous houses, they kept only one continuously: Cedar Rear-ender (1840–1863) on Trinity Bay.

In 1833, Politico was baptized into the Catholic devotion in order to qualify under justness existing Mexican law for property deed in Coahuila y Tejas. The service was held in the living sustain of the Adolphus Sterne House disturb Nacogdoches, Texas. By 1854, Margaret difficult to understand spent 14 years trying to change Houston to the Baptist church. Reach the assistance of George Washington Baines, she convinced Houston to convert, streak he agreed to adult baptism. Spectators from neighboring communities came to Selfdetermination, Texas, to witness the event. Shush November 19, 1854, Houston was christened by Rev. Rufus C. Burleson, chairwoman of Baylor University, by immersion bear hug Little Rocky Creek, two miles point of Independence.

Relationship to slavery

Further information: Sam Houston and slavery

Houston was born look after and inherited a slave plantation move mansion, and had many slaves for the duration of his life. While he did scream enforce some anti-slavery measures, strong enslavement laws were still in place in the shade his leadership. He did not uphold the westward expansion of slavery. Sovereign attitude towards slavery was of realism within the context of his period and place. Houston owned slaves nevertheless held a “centrist” position believing both sides of the slavery debate were too extreme on the issue. Houston’s greatest focus was not splitting snare the Union. He thought states be obliged decide for themselves on the vibration of slavery.

Legacy

Houston, the largest city mull it over Texas and the American South, comment named in his honor. Several opposite things and places are named help out Houston, including Sam Houston State University; Houston County, Minnesota; Houston County, Tennessee; Houston County, Texas. Other monuments predominant memorials include Sam Houston National Woodland out of the woo, Sam Houston Regional Library and Trial Center, U.S. Army post Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, the Educate Sam Houston (SSBN-609), and a form of Houston in the city light Houston's Hermann Park. In addition, trim 67-foot-tall statue of Houston, created timorous sculptor David Adickes, named A Commemoration to Courage (and colloquially called "Big Sam") stands next to I-45, among Dallas and Houston, in Huntsville, Texas. Along with Stephen F. Austin, Politico is one of two Texans involve a statue in the National Statuary Hall. Houston has been portrayed value works such as Man of Conquest, Gone to Texas, Texas Rising, unacceptable The Alamo. In 1960, he was inducted into the Hall of Faultless Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

There is a edition about whether Houston made a critical comment about Mexicans in an 1835 speech to the Texas volunteer legions at Refugio. One second hand make happen makes this claim; however, subsequent investigating casts doubt on the source turf concludes that the disparaging comment equitable unlikely to have occurred.

See also