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Forgotten
Texas HENRY SMITH“First
American Governor of Texas" |
| Born
in Kentucky in 1788 and dying in California in 1851, makes it easy to understand
how Mr. Smith may have come close to being forgotten. Scant mention is made of
Henry Smith in Texas history texts,
but the Centennial Statue in Brazoria
holds his place in early Texas history.
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| The
statue of Henry Smith, designed by sculptor Hugo Villa, was a Texas
Centennial statue. It sits in the 200 Block of North Brooks Street, (AKA Highway
36) in Brazoria. |
Ten
Things to Know about Henry Smith:1.
Smith entered Texas in 1827, settling in along the coast at present-day Brazoria
County. He was wounded at the 1832 Battle of Velasco
and was an early convert to the idea of Texas Independence.
2. His election
as Alcalde in 1833 and then appointment as the head of the newly established Mexican
“Department of the Brazos” the following year forced him to keep quiet about his
thoughts of Texas Independence. By all indications, the Mexican government had
faith in Mr. Smith’s loyalty.
3. In the summer of 1835, the Mexican Constitution
of 1824 was upheld, but by November of that year, a majority of the General Council
favored Independence and named Smith (as leader of the Independence party) governor
– giving claim to his most remembered title of “First American Governor of Texas.”
4. Smith is said to have assumed that Texas became a free state by simple declaration.
As governor, he was known to be both “undiplomatic and uncompromising.” As governor,
he attempted to dissolve the council while the council attempted to impeach him.
5. Things came to a head in January of 1836 when he was charged with failure
to support the Declaration of November 7, "official perjury," and slandering members
of the General Council. But Independence (and Santa Anna’s advancing army) demanded
the full attention of the Convention and Smith’s transgressions were laid aside
and ultimately forgotten.
6. After Independence, Smith had enough friends left
to nominate him for President of the new Republic, even though Smith, himself,
openly supported Sam Houston.
7. He became Secretary of the Treasury under
Houston, but failed in balancing the budget of the emerging Republic – a feat
that would’ve proven impossible for anyone since the Republic was essentially
bankrupt.
8. In the late 1830s, Smith built his home on Live Oak peninsula
in present-day Aransas County. In 1840 Smith was elected to Congress and later
served a single term in the House of Representatives before retiring to his coastal
home.
9. In 1849 he joined the hordes of gold-seekers in California, dying
two years later in an unnamed Los Angeles County mining camp.
10. Mr. Smith
was married three times and his three wives were sisters. (Harriet, Elizabeth
and Sarah Gillett). |
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