Sam Houston | Timeline
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 elected the first President of the Republic of Texas.
- The town of Houston is founded.
1837
Divorce from Eliza Allen is granted.
1840
Houston marries Margaret Lea of Marion, Alabama, a strict Baptist who curbs his drinking and bears his eight children.
1841
Houston serves a second term as President of Texas.
1845
Texas gains statehood.
1846
Houston is elected to the U.S. Senate. He serves as Senator from 1846 - 1859.
1859
Houston is elected Governor of Texas.
1861
When Texas votes to separate from the Union, Houston, a strong Unionist, refuses to swear allegiance to the Confederacy. Consequently, Houston leaves the Governor's Office.
1863
On July 26, 1863, Sam Houston dies of pneumonia in his home in Huntsville, Texas. He is seventy years of age.