Sam Houston was an American soldier turned politician who was instrumental in establishing Texas as a separate state in the United States. This politician was a prominent figure in Texas’ political history, having served as President of the Republic of Texas twice and as governor of the state. He played a significant role as a soldier in the War of 1812, which aided in the launch of his future political career. He served under Andrew Jackson, who was awestruck by the young man’s sincerity and bravery—Houston fought on despite being wounded and bravely confronted the bullets that caused shoulder and arm injuries. Jackson assisted him in obtaining a position as a Cherokee Indian agent. He also began studying law and was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives. Throughout his political career, he backed Andrew Jackson and was regarded as his protege by some, despite their widely divergent views. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief at the Texas Declaration of Independence convention in March 1836 and signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. He was a highly regarded politician whose accomplishments were widely recognized and admired.
Childhood & Adolescence
He was Samuel Houston’s son by Elizabeth Paxton. During the American Revolutionary War, his father was a member of Morgan’s Rifle Brigade and was promoted to Major. He was one of eight siblings.
In 1807, his father died, and his mother relocated the family to eastern Tennessee. He was forced to work as a clerk in his older brothers’ store, which dissatisfied the teenager; he fled home in 1809 at the age of 16.
He moved in with the Cherokee tribe, where the leader welcomed him with open arms and took on the role of an adoptive father for young Sam. He gained an understanding of the tribal people’s way of life and also became fluent in their language.
Career of Sam
He enlisted in 1812 as a member of the 39th Infantry Regiment to fight the British during the War of 1812. He advanced from the tank of a private to that of a third lieutenant within a few months.
He was mortally wounded during the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814, but his wounds were bandaged and he rejoined the war. He served under Andrew Jackson, who was awestruck by Houston’s valor and bravery.
Jackson appointed him as an Indian agent to the Cherokee following the war. However, disagreements with Secretary of War John C. Calhoun resulted in his resignation in 1818.
He began his legal studies at Judge James Trimble’s office and passed the bar exam; in 1818, he was appointed as the local prosecutor in Nashville.
He was elected to the United States House of Representatives for Tennessee in 1822, where he was a staunch supporter of Democrat Andrew Jackson. Houston served in the United States Congress from 1823 to 1827.
In 1830 and 1833, he traveled to Washington, DC, to expose government agents’ frauds against the Cherokee. During this time period, anti-Jacksonian Congressman William Stanbery charged Houston with several felonies. He was ordered to pay $500 in damages, but he fled the United States for Mexico without paying.
He moved to Texas and became a supporter of William Harris Wharton, a proponent of Mexican independence. In 1835, he was appointed Major General of the Texas Army.
He was the Commander-in-Chief at the 1836 Texas independence convention. On 2 March 1836, he signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.
He was twice elected President of the Republic of Texas. He served from October 1836 to December 1838 in his first term and from December 1841 to December 1844 in his second term.
In 1845, the United States annexed Texas, and Houston was elected to the United States Senate alongside Thomas Jefferson Rusk. He held the position from February 1846 to March 1859.
Significant Achievements of Sam
He is best known for signing the Texas Declaration of Independence, which was instrumental in establishing Texas’ independence. He was also twice elected President of the Republic of Texas.
Personal History and Legacies
Houston married Eliza Allen in 1829, when he was 35 years old and she was only 19 years old. Eliza was dissatisfied with this marriage and divorced him shortly afterwards.
He later married Tiana Rogers, a Cherokee woman living on Cherokee territory in Arkansas. He and she had one child. Their marriage came to an end when he refused to accompany his wife to Texas.
In 1840, he married for the third time. Margaret Moffette Lea, who was much younger than him, was his wife. Their union resulted in the birth of eight children. Houston, who struggled with excessive drinking, finally gave it up after his wife persuaded him.
In 1863, he developed a persistent cough and contracted pneumonia, which resulted in his death at the age of 70.
Estimated Net Worth
Sam Houston is one of the wealthiest politicians and is ranked among the most popular. Sam Houston’s net worth is estimated to be between $2-10 million, based on our analysis of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.