Andrew Jackson Houston
Encyclopedia
Andrew Jackson Houston was an American
politician
. He was a son of the famous Texas
hero and statesman Sam Houston
, and was named for his father's mentor Andrew Jackson
.
Houston was educated at several military academies and colleges, including West Point
—from which he dropped out from the Class of 1875, and Baylor University
. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1876.
Houston held many interesting positions through this period including colonel in the Texas National Guard and United States Marshal for the eastern district of Texas. Houston unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Texas
in 1892 as a "lily-white" Republican
candidate, and in 1910 and 1918 as a Prohibition Party
candidate. In 1918 he retired to study and write history.
His retirement ended in 1941, when John Morris Sheppard
died while representing Texas in the United States Senate
. Texas Governor W. Lee O'Daniel
, knowing that the 86-year-old Houston would not try to keep the seat during the special election, appointed Houston to fill the vacancy until the term ended in 1943. At the time of his swearing in, he was the oldest man to enter the Senate (the oldest person was Rebecca Latimer Felton
); it was 82 years after his father had served there. He filled that post from April 21, 1941 until his death 5 days after his 87th birthday on June 26 that year, attending only one committee meeting as a Senator. Houston is buried in the Texas State Cemetery
.
Houston is one of 4 Senators (the others being William Johnson
, Edmund Pettus
and Strom Thurmond
) to be the oldest living U.S. Senator while serving and he is the only Senator subsequent to the second U.S. Congress to become the oldest living Senator upon inauguration.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was a son of the famous Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
hero and statesman Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
, and was named for his father's mentor Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
.
Houston was educated at several military academies and colleges, including West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
—from which he dropped out from the Class of 1875, and Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1876.
Houston held many interesting positions through this period including colonel in the Texas National Guard and United States Marshal for the eastern district of Texas. Houston unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Texas
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
in 1892 as a "lily-white" Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate, and in 1910 and 1918 as a Prohibition Party
Prohibition Party
The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the US. The party was an integral part of the temperance movement...
candidate. In 1918 he retired to study and write history.
His retirement ended in 1941, when John Morris Sheppard
Morris Sheppard
John Morris Sheppard was a Democratic United States Congressman and United States Senator from Texas. He authored the Eighteenth Amendment and introduced it in the Senate, so that he is referred to as "the father of national Prohibition."-Biography:John Morris Sheppard was born in Morris County...
died while representing Texas in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Texas Governor W. Lee O'Daniel
W. Lee O'Daniel
Wilbert Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel, , was a conservative Democratic Party politician from Texas, who came to prominence by hosting a popular radio program. Known for his populist appeal, Pappy O'Daniel was the governor of Texas and later its junior U.S. Senator. He is also the only person ever to have...
, knowing that the 86-year-old Houston would not try to keep the seat during the special election, appointed Houston to fill the vacancy until the term ended in 1943. At the time of his swearing in, he was the oldest man to enter the Senate (the oldest person was Rebecca Latimer Felton
Rebecca Latimer Felton
Rebecca Ann Latimer Felton was an American writer, lecturer, reformer, and politician who became the first woman to serve in the United States Senate...
); it was 82 years after his father had served there. He filled that post from April 21, 1941 until his death 5 days after his 87th birthday on June 26 that year, attending only one committee meeting as a Senator. Houston is buried in the Texas State Cemetery
Texas State Cemetery
The Texas State Cemetery is a cemetery located on about just east of downtown Austin, the capital of Texas. Originally the burial place of Edward Burleson, Texas Revolutionary general and Vice-President of the Republic of Texas, it was expanded into a Confederate cemetery during the Civil War...
.
Houston is one of 4 Senators (the others being William Johnson
William Samuel Johnson
William Samuel Johnson was an early American statesman who was notable for signing the United States Constitution, for representing Connecticut in the United States Senate, and for serving as president of Columbia University.-Early career:...
, Edmund Pettus
Edmund Pettus
Edmund Winston Pettus , was an American lawyer, soldier, and legislator. He served as a Confederate general during the American Civil War, during which he was captured three times, as well as a U.S...
and Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
) to be the oldest living U.S. Senator while serving and he is the only Senator subsequent to the second U.S. Congress to become the oldest living Senator upon inauguration.
External links
- Military Maps of the Texas revolution by Andrew Jackson Houston, hosted by the Portal to Texas History