Henry Percy Brewster
Encyclopedia
Henry Percy Brewster (November 22, 1816 December 28, 1884) was a lawyer, statesman, and soldier from Texas
. He fought in the Texas Revolution
, and as a colonel
in the Confederate Army
during the Civil War
.
. He read for the law and began his practice there. In 1836, while visiting New Orleans
, he volunteered to serve in the nascent Texas Army. When Brewster arrived in Velasco, Texas
, he was detached from his company to serve as secretary to General Sam Houston
. The only action he was in was the Battle of San Jacinto
. After that battle he accompanied Houston, who was wounded, to New Orleans.
When he returned to Texas later in 1836 he served briefly as the interim Secretary of War and Navy for President David G. Burnet
. In the fall of that year, he established a legal practice at Brazoria
. In 1840 he was appointed the district attonrey for the Second Judicial District of Texas, a post he held until 1843. Six years later, Governor of Texas
George T. Wood appointed him attorney general of the state of Texas. In 1855 Brewster moved to Washington, D.C.
to practice international law.
When the Civil War erupted he returned to Texas, where he was commissioned a captain in the Confederate Army
and was appointed adjutant general to General Albert Sidney Johnston
on September 11, 1861. The next spring he became Johnston's chief of staff and was with the general when he was killed at the Battle of Shiloh
in April 1862. Afterwards he served on the staff of John Bell Hood
, where he rose to the rank of colonel.
At the close of the war in 1865, he returned to Texas and practiced law in San Antonio
. In 1881 Governor
John Ireland
appointed him commissioner of insurance, statistics, and history, a position he held until his death in Austin. His body was taken to Galveston
and buried in the Gulf of Mexico
.
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...
. He fought in 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...
, and as a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Brewster was born in Laurens County, South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. He read for the law and began his practice there. In 1836, while visiting New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, he volunteered to serve in the nascent Texas Army. When Brewster arrived in Velasco, Texas
Velasco, Texas
Velasco was a town in Texas, United States, that was later annexed by the city of Freeport. Founded in 1831, Velasco is situated on the east side of the Brazos River in southeast Texas. It is sixteen miles south of Angleton, Texas, and four miles from the Gulf of Mexico.The town's early history is...
, he was detached from his company to serve as secretary to General 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...
. The only action he was in was 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...
. After that battle he accompanied Houston, who was wounded, to New Orleans.
When he returned to Texas later in 1836 he served briefly as the interim Secretary of War and Navy for President David G. Burnet
David G. Burnet
David Gouverneur Burnet was an early politician within the Republic of Texas, serving as interim President of Texas , second Vice President of the Republic of Texas , and Secretary of State for the new state of Texas after it was annexed to the United States of America.Burnet was born in Newark,...
. In the fall of that year, he established a legal practice at Brazoria
Brazoria, Texas
Brazoria is a city of Brazoria County in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 2,787.Brazoria was originally founded as a port for Stephen F...
. In 1840 he was appointed the district attonrey for the Second Judicial District of Texas, a post he held until 1843. Six years later, 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...
George T. Wood appointed him attorney general of the state of Texas. In 1855 Brewster moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to practice international law.
When the Civil War erupted he returned to Texas, where he was commissioned a captain in the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
and was appointed adjutant general to General Albert Sidney Johnston
Albert Sidney Johnston
Albert Sidney Johnston served as a general in three different armies: the Texas Army, the United States Army, and the Confederate States Army...
on September 11, 1861. The next spring he became Johnston's chief of staff and was with the general when he was killed at the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
in April 1862. Afterwards he served on the staff of John Bell Hood
John Bell Hood
John Bell Hood was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Hood had a reputation for bravery and aggressiveness that sometimes bordered on recklessness...
, where he rose to the rank of colonel.
At the close of the war in 1865, he returned to Texas and practiced law in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. In 1881 Governor
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...
John Ireland
John Ireland (politician)
John Ireland was the 18th Governor of Texas from 1883 to 1887. During Ireland's term, the University of Texas was established, and construction on the Texas State Capitol began...
appointed him commissioner of insurance, statistics, and history, a position he held until his death in Austin. His body was taken to Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
and buried in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
.
External links
- Brewster’s biography in ‘’Handbook of Texas online’’ at the University of TexasUniversity of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
.