Sam Houston
General who won Texas independence at San Jacinto, president of the Republic of Texas.
via Wikipedia: Houston · see source
Sam Houston was the general who won Texas's independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto, fought 25 miles east of Allen's Landing. He served as president of the Republic of Texas, and the city of Houston—the most populous city in Texas and the Southern United States—is named after him. The city was founded on August 30, 1836, and incorporated on June 5, 1837, taking his name while he was still alive and would become president later that year.
- field
- Military general, statesman
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Leading the Texas Revolution, serving as president of the Republic of Texas
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Nickname
- “The Raven”,He acquired the moniker "Colonneh" during his time residing with the Cherokee Nation, following Sam's departure from his familial residence. “Old Sam Jacinto”
- Order
- 7th Governor of Texas
- Lieutenant
- Edward Clark
- Term Start
- December 21, 1859
- Term End
- March 15, 1861
- Predecessor
- Hardin Richard Runnels
- Jr/Sr1
- United States Senator
- State1
- Texas
- Term Start1
- February 21, 1846
- Term End1
- March 3, 1859
- Predecessor1
- Seat established
- Successor1
- John Hemphill
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Sam Houston was the former General who had won Texas's independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto, a site 25 miles east of Allen's Landing. The Allen brothers ran their first advertisement for the new town of Houston on August 30, 1836, naming it in honor of Sam Houston, who would become President of the Republic of Texas later that year. Houston briefly served as the capital of the Texas Republic in the late 1830s. The city's name directly commemorates his military victory and political leadership during the founding of the republic.
Reader's Guide
Houston's leadership at the Battle of San Jacinto was the decisive military action that secured Texas independence from Mexico. After the battle, he became president of the Republic of Texas, and the new town named after him was designated the temporary capital. The Republic of Texas Congress was convinced by the Allen brothers to make Houston the temporary capital, with the brothers agreeing to provide a state capitol building. About a dozen persons resided in the town at the beginning of 1837, but that number grew to about 1,500 by the time the Texas Congress convened in Houston for the first time that May. The Republic of Texas granted Houston incorporation on June 5, 1837, with James S. Holman as its first mayor. In 1839, the capital was relocated to Austin.
Did You Know?
- Sam Houston won Texas's independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto, fought 25 miles east of Allen's Landing.
- The city of Houston was named after Sam Houston while he was still alive, and he became President of the Republic of Texas later that same year (1836).
- Houston briefly served as the capital of the Texas Republic in the late 1830s before the capital moved to Austin in 1839.
- The Allen brothers paid $5,000 total for the land that became Houston, but only $1,000 in cash; notes made up the remainder.
- About 1,500 persons resided in Houston by the time the Texas Congress convened there for the first time in May 1837.
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