Sam Houston

His first marriage was to Eliza Allen in 1829 when Houston was 35 and the girl just 19. Eliza was unhappy with this marriage and left him soon after.

He later married Tiana Rogers, a Cherokee woman in Arkansas territory. He had one child with her. Their marriage ended when his wife refused to accompany him to Texas.

He married for the third time in 1840. His wife was Margaret Moffette Lea who was much younger than him. Their marriage produced eight children. Houston, who had a problem of excessive drinking finally gave up this habit at the persuasion of his wife.

He was the son of Samuel Houston and Elizabeth Paxton. His father was a member of Morgan’s Rifle Brigade and was commissioned as a Major during the American Revolutionary War. He had eight siblings.

His father died in 1807 and his mother took the children to eastern Tennessee. He was made to work as a shop clerk at his older brothers’ store which left the teenager dissatisfied; he ran away from home in 1809 at the age of 16.

He went to live with the Cherokee tribe whose leader welcomed him with open arms and became like an adoptive father to the young Sam. He learnt about the lifestyle of the tribal people and also became fluent in their language.

He enlisted in the 39th Infantry Regiment in 1812 to fight the British in the War of 1812. Within a few months he rose from the tank of a private to third lieutenant.

While fighting at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814 he was badly wounded but had his injuries bandaged and rejoined the war. He served under Andrew Jackson who was greatly impressed by Houston’s bravery and valor.

After the war, Jackson had him appointed as an Indian agent to the Cherokee. However, some differences with John C. Calhoun, the Secretary of War, led to his resignation in 1818.

He began studying law at the office of Judge James Trimble and passed the bar exam; he was appointed as the local prosecutor in Nashville in 1818.

He was elected into the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee in 1822 where he strongly supported Andrew Jackson who was a Democrat. Houston was a Congressman from 1823 to 1827.

He is best known for playing a major role in establishing the independence of Texas by signing the Texas Declaration of Independence. He also served as the President of the Republic of Texas twice.