Born at Timber Ridge Church, Rockville County, near Lexington, Virginia. Attended Maryville (TN) Academy but had little formal education. Married Eliza Allen January 22, 1829, but she soon abandoned the marriage.

He took an Indian wife, Tiana Rogers, in the early 1830's. Married Margaret Lea in 1840. They had eight children.

Served in U.S. Army 1813 to 1818. Admitted to the bar in Tennessee in 1818. Served as district attorney in Nashville in 1819. Appointed major general in Tennessee militia in 1821. Served in U.S. House of Representatives March 4, 1823, to March 3, 1827. Governor of Tennessee 1827 to 1829.

He moved to Cherokee Indian territory in 1829 and to Texas in 1833. Member of the convention to establish statehood in 1833. With Texas Constitutional Convention in 1835. Appointed commander-in-chief of the Texas Army in March 1836. He captured Santa Anna at San Jacinto April 21, 1836. Served as first president of the Republic of Texas October 22, 1836, to 1839, and third president 1841 to 1844. Served as U.S. Senator from Texas February 21, 1846, to March 3, 1859. Returned to Texas as Governor 1859 to 1861.

Houston refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy March 18, 1861, and was removed from government. He died in Huntsville, Texas. A large Texas city is named for him.

Houston almost appears as a small figure on reverse of the Texas Centennial commemorative half dollar. Design was by Pompeo Coppini.

bio: ApCAB; BDC; DAB; Drake; NCAB 9; WAB; WWAmPol; WWWA-H