James W. Henderson

James Wilson Henderson (August 15, 1817 – August 30, 1880) was the fourth Governor of Texas from November 23, 1853, to December 21, 1853.

James Wilson Henderson
4th Governor of Texas
In office
November 23, 1853 – December 21, 1853
LieutenantVacant
Preceded byPeter Hansborough Bell
Succeeded byElisha M. Pease
3rd Lieutenant Governor of Texas
In office
December 22, 1851 – November 23, 1853
GovernorPeter Hansborough Bell
Preceded byJohn Alexander Greer
Succeeded byDavid Catchings Dickson
Member of the Republic of Texas House of Representatives
In office
1843–1845
7th Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
In office
December 13, 1847 – November 5, 1849
Preceded byStephen W. Perkins
Succeeded byCharles G. Keenan
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
In office
December 13, 1847 – November 5, 1849
In office
November 2, 1857 – November 4, 1861
Personal details
BornAugust 15, 1817
Sumner County, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedAugust 30, 1880(1880-08-30) (aged 63)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Saphira Elizabeth Price (m. 1858)
Laura A. Hooker (m. 1848; died 1856)
ProfessionSurveyor
Military service
Allegiance Confederate States
Branch/service Confederate States Army
Rank Captain
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Biography

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 was inaugurated on December 21. He became the fourth Governor of Texas on November 23, 1853, upon the resignation of his predecessor, Peter Hansborough Bell.[1]

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.

James W. Henderson died on August 30, 1880, at the age of 63 in Houston and was buried in Glenwood Cemetery.[2]

References
  1. "Henderson, James Wilson". tshaonline.org.
  2. "James Wilson Henderson". Find A Grave. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
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