Sam HoustonBy: Elora Wheeler

Early Life

Born March 2,1793 Born in Rockbridge County, Virginia Parents were Samuel and Elizabeth

Houston He was the 5th of 9 children Paxton Houston, Robert Houston, James

Houston, John Houston, William Houston, Isabella Houston, Mary Houston, Eliza Houston were his siblings.

Childhood Information and Education

Father was a Veteran of the American Revolutionary War, and a major in the Virginia Militia.

His Father Died when he was thirteen After his father’s death, Sam’s mother moved

them to eastern Tennessee. At the age of 15 Houston ran away from home and

went to live with the Cherokee Indians. His Indian name was the Raven. At the age of 18 Sam Houston left the Cherokees

and spent 2 years teaching school to earn money.

War of 1812

At the outbreak of war in 1812, Houston joined the US Army as a private.

He quickly rose to the rank of 3rd Lieutenant.

He was severely wounded at the battle of Horseshoe Bend.

During this battle he was brought the attention of General Andrew Jackson; who became his mentor and surrogate father.

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ED Sam Houston wounded at the battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814

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After the War

Appointed subagent to Cherokees and assisted them to the Indian territory west of the Mississippi River.

Resigned from army in 1818

Career

He started to study law. He rose in politics very quickly. He became prosecuting attorney in

Nashville, major general of state militia, US congressman, and governor of Tennessee.

He was just 34 years old.

Marriage and Indians

January 22, 1829 he married Eliza Allen of Gallatin, Tennessee

After eleven weeks the marriage ended The reason for the break-up remains

mysterious to history. Houston abruptly resigned as governor

and fled to Indian Territory to rejoin the Cherokees.

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This 1829 legal document grants Sam Houston permission to live with the Cherokees, with all the rights and responsibilities of a native-born member of the tribe.

Marriage, Indians, and the Return to White Society

Under Cherokee law, he married a Cherokee woman, Diana Rogers Gentry, and they opened a trading post on the Neosho River.

After three years, Houston began to gradually re-enter white society.

He separated from Diana and traveled to Washington to represent the Cherokees, where he was involved in a much-publicized incident in which he caned a congressman whom he said had insulted him.

Being back in the spotlight seemed to bring Houston back to himself. He turned his attention to the future.

On to Texas

Sam Houston moved to Texas in late 1832

He quickly became involved in the cause of rebellion against Mexico.

Houston served as a delegate to a number of the conventions and mass meetings that led up to the Texas Revolution.

War with Mexico

1835 Houston was appointed major general of Texas army

Houston's first acts was to visit the Cherokees in East Texas and negotiate a peace treaty. This ensured that the Texans would not be subject to attack from the Cherokees while fighting the Mexicans. 

Houston was present for the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836.

It was his 43rd birthday.

War with Mexico On April 21, 1836, Houston

turned his army south and took on the hated forces of General Santa Anna. 

Houston and his men defeated the Mexican forces of General Santa Anna at the decisive battle of San Jacinto on the afternoon of April 21, 1836. 

At San Jacinto, Sam Houston became forever enshrined as a member of the pantheon of Texas heroes and a symbol for the age.

Third Wife

In May 1839, Houston met Margaret Moffett Lea in Mobile, Alabama.

He asked her to marry him on his second visit to Mobile.

In May 1840, Houston and Margaret were married in Alabama.

Sam and Margaret had 8 Children. 4 boys and 4 girls. Sam Houston, Jr., Nancy Elizabeth, Margaret Lea, Mary

William, Antoinette Power, Andrew Jackson Houston, William Rogers Houston, and Temple Lea Houston were his children’s names.

Final Years

Died July 26, 1863 in Huntsville, Texas Houston died of pneumonia with his

wife by his side. According to legend, his last words

were, "Texas--Texas--Margaret--"

Resources

https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/presidents/houston2/mrprez.html

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/ricewrc/00111/rice-00111.html