Houston, Sam

Houston, Sam (1793–1863) president of the Republic of Texas (1836–38; 1841–44) and U.S. senator, born Samuel Houston in Rockbridge County, Virginia. Houston's early life and career were varied: two extended periods living with the Cherokees; several years in the U.S. army; additional time in the Tennessee militia; reading and practicing law in Nashville; representative to the U.S. Congress; and governor of Tennessee. But it is with Texas that his name is linked, from its early days as a province of Mexico through its annexation to the United States. As commander in chief of the Texas army, Houston led the fight for independence from Mexico, becoming first president of the new Republic of Texas in 1836. He then served in the Texas congress before being returned to the presidency (1841). While in office he repeatedly worked for annexation, but it was not achieved until after his term expired (1844). Elected to the U.S. Senate (1846), Houston took what became an unfavorable stance against sectionalism and in support of the Union, for which the Texas legislature failed to return him when his final term ended in 1859. That same year he became governor of Texas but was removed from office in March 1861 when he refused to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy. However, he eventually sided with the Confederate cause.