Samuel Bell Maxey

Samuel Bell Maxey


United States Senator from Texas
In office March 4, 1875 – March 4, 1887
Preceded by	James W. Flanagan
Succeeded by	John H. Reagan
Member of the Texas Senate from District 9
In office 1861
Preceded by	Jesse H. Parsons
Succeeded by	Rice Maxey
Personal details
Born	(1825-03-30)March 30, 1825 Tompkinsville, Kentucky
Died	August 16, 1895(1895-08-16) (aged 70) Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Political party	Democratic
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America Confederate States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Confederate States Army
Years of service	1846–1849 (USA) 1861–1865 (CSA)
Rank	Brevet First Lieutenant (USA) Major General (CSA)
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War

Samuel Bell Maxey (March 30, 1825 – August 16, 1895) was an American soldier, lawyer, and politician from Paris, Texas. He was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and later represented Texas in the U.S. Senate.

Samuel was born in Tompkinsville, Kentucky on March 30, 1825. His parents were Rice and Lucy (Bell) Maxey. His father was a lawyer, and in 1834 he moved the family to Albany, Kentucky to take a position as the County Clerk for Clinton County, Kentucky. In 1842 young Maxey got an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

Although he consistently ranked near the bottom of his class, Maxey did graduate in 1846 and was commissioned a Brevet second lieutenant. He was assigned to the 7th Infantry Regiment, which was engaged in the Mexican-American War. Maxey joined the regiment in Monterrey, Mexico. Maxey was cited for gallantry and brevetted first lieutenant for his actions in the battles of Cerro Gordo and Contreras in the summer of 1847. He also participated in the battles of Churubusco and Molino del Rey. He received a brevet promotion and was placed in command of a police company in Mexico City.