Houston, Sam. An American general. Born in Virginia, 1793. He entered Congress in 1823, and four years later became governor of Tennessee. After emigrating to Texas in 1832, he was elected to the chief command of the army which defeated the Mexicans under Santa Ana at San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. He was elected president of Texas the same year, and reelected in 1841. After the admission of Texas into the Union as a state, Houston twice represented her in the national senate, and filled the gubernatorial chair in 1859. Died 1863.

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