Edward Thomas Branch
Encyclopedia
Edward Thomas Branch was a Republic of Texas
legislator and Judge, and after the annexation of Texas
to the United States
, served briefly as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
Branch was born 6 December 1811 in Richmond, Virginia
. After relocating to Jackson, Mississippi
, he settled at Liberty, Texas
in 1835 after having been hijacked on his way to Cuba
and put ashore at Anahuac
. He worked as a teacher in Liberty through early 1836.
Branch joined the Texas Army during the Texas Revolution
, serving as a first sergeant
under William M. Logan, and saw action at the Battle of San Jacinto
. He later re-enlisted and served a stint as first lieutenant
under Benjamin Franklin Hardin in 1837.
Residents of Liberty County
sent Branch as their representative to the First and Second Congresses
of the Republic of Texas
(1836–1838). He chaired the House Ways and Means Committee during both sessions. Branch was appointed a District Judge in 1838, which also made him an Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
. He served as judge until 12 August 1840.
In 1843 he served as postmaster of Liberty, and in 1846, as representative of Liberty in the Texas House of Representatives
of the First Texas Legislature
. During that session, Branch was elected Speaker of the House pro tempore and served as Speaker from his election on 9 March 1846 until Speaker William Crump
returned from a leave of absence on 16 March 1846.
In private life, Branch split his time between farming and his law practice. Branch at one time owned over 3000 acres (12.1 km²) of land and was a slaveholder. On 15 August 1838, Branch married Annie Cleveland Wharton, an adopted child of William Harris Wharton. Together they had five children. He was a Mason
and a Methodist.
Branch died 24 September 1861 and is buried in Liberty.
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
legislator and Judge, and after the annexation of Texas
Texas Annexation
In 1845, United States of America annexed the Republic of Texas and admitted it to the Union as the 28th state. The U.S. thus inherited Texas's border dispute with Mexico; this quickly led to the Mexican-American War, during which the U.S. captured additional territory , extending the nation's...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, served briefly as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the Texas House of Representatives. The Speaker's main duties are to conduct meetings of the House, appoint committees, and enforce the Rules of the House...
Branch was born 6 December 1811 in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. After relocating to Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, he settled at Liberty, Texas
Liberty, Texas
Liberty is a city in and the county seat of Liberty County, Texas, United States and a part of the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area. The population was 8,033 at the 2000 census....
in 1835 after having been hijacked on his way to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and put ashore at Anahuac
Anahuac, Texas
Anahuac is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The population of the city was 2,210 at the 2000 census. Anahuac is the seat of Chambers County and is situated in East Texas.- History :...
. He worked as a teacher in Liberty through early 1836.
Branch joined the Texas Army during the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
, serving as a first sergeant
First Sergeant
First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...
under William M. Logan, and saw action at the Battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
. He later re-enlisted and served a stint as first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
under Benjamin Franklin Hardin in 1837.
Residents of Liberty County
Liberty County, Texas
Liberty County is a county located in Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 75,643. Its county seat is Liberty.-Geography:According to the U.S...
sent Branch as their representative to the First and Second Congresses
Congress of the Republic of Texas
The Congress of the Republic of Texas was the national legislature of the Republic of Texas established by the Constitution of the Republic of Texas in 1836. It was a bicameral legislature based on the model of the United States Congress...
of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
(1836–1838). He chaired the House Ways and Means Committee during both sessions. Branch was appointed a District Judge in 1838, which also made him an Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
. He served as judge until 12 August 1840.
In 1843 he served as postmaster of Liberty, and in 1846, as representative of Liberty in the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
of the First Texas Legislature
First Texas Legislature
The First Texas Legislature convened from 16 February to 13 May 1846 in regular session. Members of the House of Representatives and Senate were elected in December 1845, after an election on 13 October 1845 that ratified the proposed state constitution....
. During that session, Branch was elected Speaker of the House pro tempore and served as Speaker from his election on 9 March 1846 until Speaker William Crump
William Crump
William Edward Crump was the first Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives following statehood. A representative from Austin County, Crump was a novice in political circles, having held no previous public office in Texas either in the Republic or at the local level...
returned from a leave of absence on 16 March 1846.
In private life, Branch split his time between farming and his law practice. Branch at one time owned over 3000 acres (12.1 km²) of land and was a slaveholder. On 15 August 1838, Branch married Annie Cleveland Wharton, an adopted child of William Harris Wharton. Together they had five children. He was a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and a Methodist.
Branch died 24 September 1861 and is buried in Liberty.