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Portrait of Sam Houston

Sam Houston

Samuel Houston

Sam Houston, the general who won Texas independence and became its first elected president, was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia.

Profession
Statesman, General, President of Texas
From
Rockbridge County, Virginia
Born
March 2, 1793
Years active
1813–1863

Early life

Born near Lexington in 1793, Houston moved to Tennessee as a boy and lived for a time among the Cherokee.

Career

He led Texan forces to victory at San Jacinto in 1836, served as president of the Republic of Texas, and later as U.S. senator and governor of the state.

Major achievements

He is the only person elected governor of two different U.S. states and lent his name to the city of Houston.

Legacy

Houston is a towering figure in the history of Texas and the American West.

References

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