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Samuel Houston--military hero, governor of two states, president of the Texas Republic, and U.S. senator--was born on March 2, 1793. He lived his early life in Tennessee, where he spent most of his time with the Cherokee and was even adopted into the Cherokee Nation. He later enlisted in the army during the War of 1812, worked as an Indian subagent, and pursued a law career in Tennessee. By 1819 Houston's political career was starting to evolve; he served as adjunct general of the state militia and attorney general for the district of Nashville. With the support of Andrew Jackson, Houston was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served from 1823 to 1827. Then, in 1827, he ran for and won the governorship of Tennessee, though he resigned on April 16, 1829, heading west into Indian Territory and eventually to Texas.

Once in Texas, Houston became enmeshed in the events unfolding there. He was one of the Texas representatives at the Convention of 1833, through which Texas sought a peaceful independence from Mexico. Hopes for peace were dashed when war broke out in October 1835. As commander in chief of the Texas army, Houston led Texas to victory over Mexican forces in 1836. In September that year, Houston was elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas, serving until December 1838. He was elected again in December 1841, to serve until December 1844. After Texas became a state in 1845, Houston was elected as one of the state's first senators, a post he held for thirteen years. Without doubt, Houston's most eloquent documents were speeches. In his early days in Tennessee he was known as a gifted orator. While his oratory might be considered flowery in the twenty-first century, in that respect his was little different from that of other great orators of the day. In addition, his speeches, such as his 1836 inaugural address, were infused with common sense and gentle humor, and when he spoke, he could attract crowds and move people to action. It was as a senator that Houston delivered two of his most powerful speeches, on the Compromise of 1850 and on the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act. In late 1859 Houston became Texas's seventh governor, but he resigned less than two years later over the controversy surrounding his refusal to take the Confederate loyalty oath. Houston retired into private life and died at home on July 26, 1863.

Houston was involved in some of the most dramatic events in American history. Aside from his successful military career, he proved to be a passionate and dedicated politician. Unlike many of his southern counterparts, he was sympathetic to Native Americans and firmly believed that secession was a mistake. A charismatic orator and eloquent writer, Houston's writings and speeches often stirred people to action. Four documents that demonstrate his commitment to peace, his zeal, and his love of Texas and the Union are his inaugural address as the first president of the Republic of Texas, his speech on the Compromise of 1850, his speech on the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and his letter to the people of Texas refusing to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy.

References:

1. Braider, Donald. Solitary Star: A Biography of Sam Houston. New York: Putnam, 1974.

2. De Bruhl, Marshall. Sword of San Jacinto: A Life of Sam Houston. New York: Random House, 1993.

3. Haley, James L. Sam Houston. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2002.

4. James, Marquis. The Raven: A Biography of Sam Houston. Indianapolis, Ind.: Bobbs-Merrill, 1929.

5. Williams, John Hoyt. Sam Houston: A Biography of the Father of Texas. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993.

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