Henry Smith (Texas Governor)
| Henry Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 20, 1788 Bryantsville, Garrard County, Kentucky |
| Died |
March 4, 1851 (aged 62) Los Angeles County, California |
| Spouse(s) | Harriet, Elizabeth, and Sarah Gillett |
| Children | William Watt, John Gillette, James Evans, Harriet G., Jane, Sarah, Emily, Sophronia, Elizabeth |
| Parent(s) | James and Magdalen (Woods) Smith |
Henry Smith (May 20, 1788 – March 4, 1851) was the first American-born Governor of the Mexican territory of Texas and briefly presided over the revolution there, serving during the Battles of the Alamo, Goliad, and San Jacinto. He is one of 4 governors (three governors of Kentucky, one governor of Texas) from Garrard County, Kentucky, a historically Whig and Republican county located in the Bluegrass Region of the state.
Smith was born the tenth and last child of James and Magdalen (Woods) Smith of Bryantsville, Garrard County, Kentucky. At the age of 21, he became a merchant in Nashville, Tennessee, and married. Moving from place to place, he was ultimately attracted by land grants offered by the Mexican government and took his family to Brazoria County, Texas, in 1827. There he worked his lands, taught school, and did some surveying.
Becoming involved in politics, Smith was wounded in the 1832 Battle of Velasco. Elected alcalde of Brazoria in 1833, he was soon chosen a delegate to the Convention of 1833. In 1834, he was appointed by the Mexican governor as political chief of the department of the Brazos.
Around 1835, Smith became a leader of party favoring independence for Texas, called the War, or Independence Party. This party met with the Peace Party at a convention in 1836 called the Consultation. There, these two parties debated whether to declare immediate independence from Mexico, or not. While urging an immediate declaration of independence, he helped prepare the organic law that served as the constitution of a provisional government. Smith was named governor of the provisional government but soon was locked in struggles with rivals both political and personal. He dissolved the provisional government's council which retaliated by impeaching him. Smith refused to relinquish the governorship to [[James W. Robinson |title=Handbook of Texas Online: James W. Robinson|author=L. W. Kemp |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |website=tshaonline.org |date= |accessdate=October 5, 2007}}</ref> but the matter was rendered moot by the Convention of 1836.
He ran against Sam Houston and Stephen Austin in the 1836 presidential election, but was soundly defeated by Houston, though he did edge out Austin. Smith was appointed by Houston to serve as his Secretary of the Treasury during his first administration. Later he promoted development along the Texas Gulf Coast. In 1840 was elected to the Fifth Congress of the Republic of Texas, serving in the House of Representatives, though he retired after just one term. He never sought another public office.
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