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Sam Houston | Timeline
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1793
Sam Houston is born on March 2, 1793 at the Timber Ridge Plantation in Rockbridge County, Virginia. He is the fifth of nine children born to Major Samuel and Elizabeth (Paxton) Houston.
1806
Houston's father, Major Samuel Houston, dies.
1807
Houston's mother moves the family to eastern Tennessee. They settle near Maryville in Blount County on undeveloped land that borders Cherokee Indian territory.
1809
Houston leaves home and joins the Cherokees.
1812
Houston returns to Maryville, Tennessee and opens a school.
1813
Houston joins the U.S. Army.
1814
Houston fights at the battle of Horseshoe Bend.
1817
Houston is appointed Indian Subagent in Tennessee.
1818
- Houston resigns from the U.S. Army and becomes a lawyer.
- Houston is appointed Adjutant General of Tennessee.
1819
Houston wins the office of Attorney General of the District of Nashville.
1821
- Houston returns to private law practice.
- Houston is elected Major General of the Tennessee State Militia by his fellow officers.
1823
Houston is elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
1827
Houston is elected Governor of Tennessee.
1829
- Houston marries Eliza Allen.
- Houston announces his bid for re-election as Governor of Tennessee.
- Houston and Eliza Allen separate.
- Houston resigns as Governor of Tennessee and leaves Nashville.
1829 – 1832
Houston resides with the Cherokees and is given a new name - Big Drunk.
1833
Houston goes to Texas, leaving his life with the Indians. He becomes involved in Texas politics and in the rebellion against Mexico, and sets up a law practice in
Nacogdoches, Texas.
1835
Houston is named Major General in the Texas Army.
1836
- Houston's army wins the decisive battle of San Jacinto. Houston shouts the famous words, "Remember the Alamo," as he leads his troops to victory over Mexican General Santa Anna's army, gaining Texas its independence.
- Houston is e
Sam Houston
1793–1863 SAM HOUSTON Sam Houston was born in Virginia but moved with his family to Tennessee shortly after his fathers death, in part to avoid increasing debts left over from the elder Houstons military service. Two years later, Sam ran away from home, and he lived for a few years with a Cherokee tribe on Hiwassee Island. He returned to Tennessee in 1812, and within the year he had founded the new states first schoolhouse. He enlisted in the army and served during the War of 1812, where he rose to the rank of third lieutenant but was injured twice. During his service, Houston grew close to Andrew Jackson, but while assisting in the later presidents plans for removal of the Cherokees, he was suspected of administrating too many supplies for the natives, and, offended, he resigned.
In 1822, Houston was elected to the House of Representatives for Tennessee, and in 1827 he ran for, and won, the office of governor of Tennessee. He debated running again but decided against it after the very public termination of his first marriage, and he instead left to live among the Cherokee once more. In 1829, he was adopted as a citizen of their nation, and in the years that followed he traveled twice to Washington, D.C. to expose the injustices committed against the Native Americans by the government. While on his second journey, he engaged in a violent confrontation with Congressman William Stanberyone that ended with Houstons arrest. Houston was fined $500 for an assault on Stanberry, but he left for Mexico without paying the fine. In 1833, he attended a convention of Mexican-Americans to determine whether to declare independence for the region of Texas. Three years later, sovereignty was declared, and Houston was made president of the area. He soon retreated under the opposing Mexican forces, however, and many Texans were lost before Houstons surprising and decisive victory at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Houston was again elected
Sam Houston
American general and statesman (1793–1863)
For other people named Sam Houston, see Sam Houston (disambiguation).
Sam Houston
Portrait by Mathew Bradyc. 1848–1850
In office
December 21, 1859 – March 15, 1861Lieutenant Edward Clark Preceded by Hardin Richard Runnels Succeeded by Edward Clark In office
February 21, 1846 – March 3, 1859Preceded by Seat established Succeeded by John Hemphill In office
December 21, 1841 – December 9, 1844Vice President Edward Burleson Preceded by Mirabeau B. Lamar Succeeded by Anson Jones In office
October 22, 1836 – December 10, 1838Vice President Mirabeau B. Lamar Preceded by David G. Burnet (acting) Succeeded by Mirabeau B. Lamar In office
1839–1841In office
October 1, 1827 – April 16, 1829Lieutenant William Hall Preceded by William Carroll Succeeded by William Hall In office
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1827Preceded by Constituency established Succeeded by John Bell Born Samuel Houston
(1793-03-02)March 2, 1793
Rockbridge, Virginia, U.S.Died July 26, 1863(1863-07-26) (aged 70)
Huntsville, Texas, C.S.Political party Democratic-Republican (before 1830)
Democratic (1846–1854)
Know Nothing (1855–1856)
Independent (1856–1863)
Constitutional Union Party (1860)Spouses Eliza Allen
(m. 1829; div. 1837)Dianna Rogers
(m. 1830; ann. 1832)Children 8, including Sam Jr., Andrew, and Temple Education Maryville College Signature Allegiance United States
Republic of TexasBranch/service United States Army
Texan ArmyYears of service 1813–1818 (U.S. Army)
1835–1836 (Texan Army)Rank First Lieutenant (U.S. Army)
Major General (Texan Army)Unit 39th Infantry Regiment (U.S. - Sam houston timeline
Early Life
Born in Virginia on March 2, 1793, Houston moved to Tennessee with his mother and eight siblings after his father died when he was 13. He ran away from home in 1809 and spent nearly three years living among the Cherokee in eastern Tennessee. Adopted by a clan led by Chief Oolooteka, Houston learned to speak the Cherokee language and adopted many of their customs; they gave him the Indian name Colonneh, or “the Raven.”
Houston joined the U.S. Army to fight against Britain in the War of 1812. While serving under Andrew Jackson in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend on March 26, 1814, Houston suffered three near-fatal wounds and would carry fragments of the musket ball that lodged in his right shoulder until his death. His wounds healed slowly, and by the time he returned to duty, Jackson’s forces had won a decisive victory in the Battle of New Orleans.
Relationship with Andrew Jackson
Impressed by Houston’s valor, Jackson became a protector and father figure, arranging personally for Houston to serve on his staff in Nashville. Houston resigned from the army in 1818 to launch his law career, but Jackson helped him become general of the Tennessee militia, a post Old Hickory himself had once held.
After serving as attorney general in Nashville, Houston won election to the U.S. House of Representatives and headed to Washington, D.C. in 1823 alongside Jackson, a newly minted U.S. senator. Houston won a second congressional term in 1825, and two years later became governor of Tennessee at the age of 34.
By 1829, Jackson was in the White House and his protege appeared well-positioned for a future presidential run. That year, Houston married Eliza Allen, who left him just three months later to move back to her father’s house. Details of what happened are scarce, but the scandal irreparably damaged Houston’s reputation. He resigned as governor in April 1829 and left Tennessee to seek refuge with the Cherokee in Arkansas Territory.
Life with Cherokee and Retu
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