Henry Smith (Texas governor)
| Henry Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 20, 1788 Kentucky |
| Died | March 4, 1851 (aged 62) Los Angeles County, California |
| Spouse(s) | Harriet, Elizabeth, and Sarah Gillett |
| Children | William Watt, John Gillette, James Evans, Harriet G., Jane, Sarah, Emily, Sophronia, Elizabeth |
| Parent(s) | James and Magdalen (Woods) Smith |
Henry Smith (May 20, 1788 – March 4, 1851) was first American-born Governor of the Mexican territory of Texas and briefly presided over the revolution there.[1]
Early life
Smith was born the tenth and last child of James and Magdalen (Woods) Smith of Kentucky.[2] At the age of 21, he became a merchant in Nashville, Tennessee, and married. Moving from place to place, he was ultimately attracted by land grants offered by the Mexican government and took his family to Brazoria County, Texas, in 1827. There he worked his lands, taught school, and did some surveying.
Becoming involved in politics, Smith was wounded in the 1832 Battle of Velasco. Elected alcalde of Brazoria in 1833, he was soon chosen a delegate to the Convention of 1833. In 1834, he was appointed by the Mexican governor as political chief of the department of the Brazos.
Texas Independence
Around 1835, Smith became a leader of party favoring independence for Texas, called the War, or Independence Party. This party met with the Peace Party at a convention in 1836 called the Consultation. There, these two parties debated whether to declare immediate independence from Mexico, or not. While urging an immediate declaration of independence, he helped prepare the organic law that served as the constitution of a provisional government. Smith was named governor of the provisional government but soon was locked in struggles with rivals both political and personal. He dissolved the provisional government's council which retaliated by impeaching him. Smith refused to relinquish the governorship to James W. Robinson[3] but the matter was rendered moot by the Convention of 1836.
He ran against Sam Houston and Stephen Austin in the 1836 presidential election, but was soundly defeated by Houston, though he did edge out Austin.
Smith served as secretary of the treasury during the first Sam Houston administration. Later he promoted development along the Texas Gulf Coast. In 1840 was elected to the Fifth Congress of the Republic of Texas, serving in the House of Representatives, though he retired after just one term.[4] He sought no other public office.
He joined the California Gold Rush in 1849, found no gold, and died in a mining camp in California.
Personal life
Smith married Harriet Gillette in 1815; they had three sons: William Watt, and the twins John Gillette and James Evans. They moved to Missouri where Harriet died in 1820.
In 1822, Smith married Harriet's sister, Elizabeth; they had five daughters: Harriet G., Jane, Sarah, Emily and Sophronia. They moved to Texas in 1827, where Elizabeth died of cholera in 1833.
In 1839, Smith married Elizabeth's twin Sarah. They had one daughter Elizabeth. Sarah died in Liberty, Texas in 1863.
References
External links
- Works by or about Henry Smith in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
- Smith, Henry Texas State Historical Association
