Houston, Samuel

hu'ston, Samuel (1793-1863), an American soldier. He was a native of Lexington, Virginia. When a boy he lived for a time among the Indians and was adopted by them. In 1813 he entered the ranks of the American army and served in the Creek War. Tennessee sent him to Congress in 1823 and made him governor in 1827. Two years later he resigned his office, left his family, and betook himself to the wilds of Arkansas to his former Indian friends, the Cherokees. Thence he drifted southward into Texas, and in 1832 he was made commander-in-chief of the Texan army. He moved upon Santa Anna's forces after the massacre of the Alamo. He fought the battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. Santa was captured and the independence of Texas secured. Houston was made the first president of the new republic. He liberated Santa Anna and sent him to Washington, D. C. When Texas was admitted to the Union, Houston was sent to Washington as a senator. He was opposed to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. He was elected governor in 1859, but upon the outbreak of the Civil War he was deposed for adhering to the cause of the Union. Houston, Texas, was named for him.