J. W. Henderson
Encyclopedia
James Wilson Henderson was the fourth Governor of Texas from November 23, 1853 to December 21, 1853.
Born on August 15, 1817 in Sumner County
, Tennessee
, Henderson moved to Texas
when he was 19 to join the struggle for independence, but he arrived too late to participate. He settled in Harris County
and became the county surveyor
, also studying law. In 1842, he enlisted in the Somervelle Expedition. In 1843, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives
, and in 1847, became Speaker of the House. He was elected Lieutenant Governor
on August 4, 1851 and became the fourth Governor of Texas on November 23, 1853 upon the resignation of his predecessor, Peter Hansborough Bell
.
Henderson served the last 28 days of Bell's term of office when Bell resigned to take the vacant seat in the United States Congress
from the Western District of Texas.
During the Civil War
, he joined the Confederate Army as a captain.
He died on August 30, 1880 in Houston
.
Born on August 15, 1817 in Sumner County
Sumner County, Tennessee
Sumner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 130,449. Its county seat is Gallatin, but its largest town is Hendersonville...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Henderson moved to 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...
when he was 19 to join the struggle for independence, but he arrived too late to participate. He settled in Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
and became the county surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
, also studying law. In 1842, he enlisted in the Somervelle Expedition. In 1843, he was elected to 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...
, and in 1847, became Speaker of the House. He was elected Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
on August 4, 1851 and became the fourth Governor of Texas on November 23, 1853 upon the resignation of his predecessor, Peter Hansborough Bell
Peter Hansborough Bell
Peter Hansborough Bell was an American military officer and politician who served as the third Governor of Texas and represented the state for two terms in the United States House of Representatives.-Background:Bell was born March 11, 1810 in Culpeper County, Virginia...
.
Henderson served the last 28 days of Bell's term of office when Bell resigned to take the vacant seat in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from the Western District of Texas.
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...
, he joined the Confederate Army as a captain.
He died on August 30, 1880 in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.