You’re probably making a list that has names like Johnson and Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. on it? Well, they were United States presidents from Texas. But tonight (today) we’re talking about an actual presidents of Texas – the Republic of Texas to be precise.

The Republic of Texas existed between 1836 and 1846, and they had presidents and vice presidents.

Last week we discussed Jefferson Davis, president of the American states which had seceded during the American Civil War. Now, we’ll talk about another American who was president of a separate nation which later became part of the United States. The most influential president of Texas was Samuel Houston.

Samuel Houston
(Portrait from Public Domain)

We’re going to do this “fast-facts” style tonight, so here’s your 12 facts on Sam Houston, a president of the Republic of Texas:

1. Sam Houston was born in Virginia in 1793 and moved to the Tennessee frontier when he was 13.
2. He ran away from home, lived with a band of Cherokee, and was formally adopted into the tribe.
3. Sam Houston fought under Andrew Jackson (later the 7th U.S. President) during the war with the Creek Indians.
4. After studying law and serving as district attorney for Nashville, he was elected to Congress in 1823.
5. In 1827, Houston became governor of Tennessee.
6. When his social and family life took a turn for the worse, Sam Houston headed west, settling the Texas area.
7. The American settlers in the Texas area had some major conflicts with the Mexican army and government. Sam Houston became the military commander for the American side.
8. He won several military victories against the Mexican army. The capture of the Mexican commander led to the formal recognition of the Republic of Texas.
9. Houston was president of the Republic of Texas from 1836-1838 and again from 1841-1844. He was the first elected president of the republic.
10. He worked to have Texas admitted as a state into the United States of America and, after this success in 1845, Houston served as state senator from 1846-1859.
11. Sam Houston did not support Southern secession. He was actually governor of Texas in 1861, but because he refused to take Texas out of the Union, Confederate supporters removed him from office.
12. Disagreeing with the new political movement, Sam Houston retired from public life. He died in 1863.

Sam Houston is another example of leader who knew what he believed. He worked for the good of his country/state and served in many offices: general, president, senator, governor. He was willing to work hard, learn, and lead.

I admire his understanding that for the good of his republic (Texas) it had to join the United States as a state. He could have selfishly kept Texas on its own and played “president or king” for the rest of his life, but, rather, he advocated strongly for Texas to join the United States.

He was an ideal American, valuing the principles of self-government.

So, Happy Belated Presidents’ Day to Sam Houston, an American president of the Republic of Texas!

Your Historian,

Miss Sarah

P.S. Your thoughts on this president of Texas?

And don’t forget…we’re posting about “Presidents’ Pets” on Gazette665 Facebook. Come join the fun and learn about some of the unique animals that have lived in the White House!