James Pinckney Henderson
Encyclopedia
James Pinckney Henderson (March 31, 1808 – June 4, 1858) was a United States
and Republic of Texas
lawyer, politician, soldier, and the first Governor of the State of Texas.
James P. Henderson was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina
, on March 31, 1808. He was the son of Lawson and Elizabeth (Carruth) Henderson. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1829. In 1835 he removed to Canton, Mississippi
. Due to his growing interest in the Texas Revolution
, Henderson began enlistments for service in Texas
. He arrived in Texas in June 1836 (after independence had been won) and was commissioned as a brigadier general by David G. Burnet
. He was sent back to the United States
to recruit for the Republic of Texas
army. He organized a company in his native North Carolina
and sent it to Texas at his own expense.
After he returned to Texas, Henderson served as attorney general under Sam Houston
, and became secretary of state after Stephen F. Austin
's death in December 1836. In 1837 he was appointed as a minister from the Republic of Texas
to England
and France
. James P. Henderson married Frances Cox of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(whom he met in France) in October 1839. Upon his return from overseas, Henderson set up a private law practice in San Augustine
. In November 1845, he was elected
governor of the new state of Texas, and took office on February 19, 1846. While still serving as governor he was granted permission from the state legislature to personally assume command of a division of Texas Rangers
being sent to fight in the Mexican-American War. Appointed Major General
of Texas Volunteers he assumed command of the so called Texas Division which was composed of two regiments led by colonels John C. Hays and future governor George T. Wood. He served under Zachary Taylor
in northern Mexico
and fought at the Battle of Monterrey
. After the battle the division was disbanded and most of the Texans returned home. Henderson did not run for a second term as governor but later served in the United States Senate from November 9, 1857 until his death on June 4, 1858. He was buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D. C., but in 1930 was re-interred in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas
.
Henderson County
, which was established in 1846, and the city of Henderson
, founded in 1843 in Rusk County
, are named in his honor. James Pickney Henderson Elementary School in Houston, Texas
, is named for him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 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...
lawyer, politician, soldier, and the first Governor of the State of Texas.
James P. Henderson was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina
Lincolnton, North Carolina
Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States, within the Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 10,683 at the 2010 census. Lincolnton is located northwest of Charlotte, on the South Fork of the Catawba River, and near the junction of State Highway 27 and U.S. Route...
, on March 31, 1808. He was the son of Lawson and Elizabeth (Carruth) Henderson. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1829. In 1835 he removed to Canton, Mississippi
Canton, Mississippi
Canton is a city in Madison County, Mississippi. The population was 12,911 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Madison County, and situated in the northern part of the metropolitan area surrounding the state capital, Jackson....
. Due to his growing interest 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...
, Henderson began enlistments for service in 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...
. He arrived in Texas in June 1836 (after independence had been won) and was commissioned as a brigadier general by 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,...
. He was sent back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to recruit for 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...
army. He organized a company in his native North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and sent it to Texas at his own expense.
After he returned to Texas, Henderson served as attorney general under 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 became secretary of state after Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
's death in December 1836. In 1837 he was appointed as a minister from 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...
to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. James P. Henderson married Frances Cox of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
(whom he met in France) in October 1839. Upon his return from overseas, Henderson set up a private law practice in San Augustine
San Augustine, Texas
San Augustine is a city in San Augustine County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,475 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of San Augustine County and is situated in East Texas.-Geography:San Augustine is located at ....
. In November 1845, he was elected
Texas gubernatorial election, 1845
The 1845 Texas gubernatorial election was held in November 1845 to select the governor of the state of Texas. James Pinckney Henderson won the election.-Gubernatorial election results:...
governor of the new state of Texas, and took office on February 19, 1846. While still serving as governor he was granted permission from the state legislature to personally assume command of a division of Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
being sent to fight in the Mexican-American War. Appointed Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
of Texas Volunteers he assumed command of the so called Texas Division which was composed of two regiments led by colonels John C. Hays and future governor George T. Wood. He served under Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
in northern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and fought at the Battle of Monterrey
Battle of Monterrey
In the Battle of Monterrey during the Mexican-American War, General Pedro de Ampudia and the Mexican Army of the North was defeated by U.S...
. After the battle the division was disbanded and most of the Texans returned home. Henderson did not run for a second term as governor but later served in the United States Senate from November 9, 1857 until his death on June 4, 1858. He was buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D. C., but in 1930 was re-interred in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
Henderson County
Henderson County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,277 people, 28,804 households, and 20,969 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 35,935 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile...
, which was established in 1846, and the city of Henderson
Henderson, Texas
Henderson is a city in Rusk County, Texas, United States. The population was 11,273 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rusk County...
, founded in 1843 in Rusk County
Rusk County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,372 people, 17,364 households, and 12,727 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 19,867 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
, are named in his honor. James Pickney Henderson Elementary School in Houston, Texas
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 ...
, is named for him.