List of Presidents of the Republic of Texas
Encyclopedia
The President of the Republic of Texas
was a position that existed from 1836 to 1846.
The Republic of Texas
was formed in 1836. In the midst of the Texas Revolution
, Texan settlers elected delegates to the Convention of 1836
, which issued the Texas Declaration of Independence
and elected David G. Burnet
as interim president of the new country. In May 1836, Burnet and Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna
, who was at the time a Texan prisoner-of-war, signed the Treaties of Velasco
officially recognizing Texas's break from Mexico.
The authority and responsibilities of the President was similar to that of the President of the United States
; to serve the people of Texas
, and to serve as the head of the military and the state, and were detailed in the Constitution of the Republic of Texas
of 1836. The Constitution specified a term of two years for the first elected President (Sam Houston
) and terms of three years thereafter; the President could not succeed himself, but there were otherwise no term limits. The President was elected separately from the Vice-President, by popular vote, and there was no requirement to be native-born. A strict reading of the Constitution provided for woman's suffrage (that is, both men and women were citizens and could vote for Congress, President, and other offices), but women and preachers or priests were not allowed to serve as President or in Congress. Indians and Africans and those of African descent could not be citizens.
The President lived in different towns during the life of the Republic, as the capital was relocated, especially during and immediately after the Texas Revolution
. Washington-on-the-Brazos was Texas' first capital in 1836 (provisional), followed quickly by Harrisburg 1836 (provisional), Galveston
1836 (provisional), Velasco
1836 (provisional), Columbia 1836-37, Houston, 1837–39, and finally Austin
, the modern capital, 1839-45.
The position was abolished with the annexation of Texas, largely due to Anson Jones
, who received the nickname "The architect of Annexation" and served only one year and three months. The amount of power wielded by occupants of the office varied tremendously during the nine years of Texas' independence. Particularly in the beginning, there was a larger military need than in the 1840s, and the President therefore had considerably more power and influence than during years of relative peace. However, there is no record of any President violating or changing the Texas Constitution.
As the United States
and other countries such as France
recognized Texian independence, Presidential power functioned without interference from the outside world, though the Republic generally allied itself informally with the United States. Several presidents supported annexation of the Republic by the United States, with direct admission as a state.
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
was a position that existed from 1836 to 1846.
The Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
was formed in 1836. In the midst of the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
, Texan settlers elected delegates to the Convention of 1836
Convention of 1836
The Convention of 1836 was the meeting of elected delegates in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas in March 1836. The Texas Revolution had begun five months previously, and the interim government, known as the Consultation, had wavered over whether to declare independence from Mexico or pledge to...
, which issued the Texas Declaration of Independence
Texas Declaration of Independence
The Texas Declaration of Independence was the formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico in the Texas Revolution. It was adopted at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836, and formally signed the following day after errors were noted in the...
and elected David G. Burnet
David G. Burnet
David Gouverneur Burnet was an early politician within the Republic of Texas, serving as interim President of Texas , second Vice President of the Republic of Texas , and Secretary of State for the new state of Texas after it was annexed to the United States of America.Burnet was born in Newark,...
as interim president of the new country. In May 1836, Burnet and Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
, who was at the time a Texan prisoner-of-war, signed the Treaties of Velasco
Treaties of Velasco
The Treaties of Velasco were two documents signed at Velasco, Texas, on May 14, 1836, between Antonio López de Santa Anna of Mexico and the Republic of Texas, in the aftermath of the Battle of San Jacinto ....
officially recognizing Texas's break from Mexico.
The authority and responsibilities of the President was similar to that of the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
; to serve the people of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and to serve as the head of the military and the state, and were detailed in the Constitution of the Republic of Texas
Constitution of the Republic of Texas
The Constitution of the Republic of Texas was written in 1836 between the fall of the Alamo Mission in San Antonio and Sam Houston's stunning victory at San Jacinto. The constitution was written quickly and while on the run from Santa Anna....
of 1836. The Constitution specified a term of two years for the first elected President (Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
) and terms of three years thereafter; the President could not succeed himself, but there were otherwise no term limits. The President was elected separately from the Vice-President, by popular vote, and there was no requirement to be native-born. A strict reading of the Constitution provided for woman's suffrage (that is, both men and women were citizens and could vote for Congress, President, and other offices), but women and preachers or priests were not allowed to serve as President or in Congress. Indians and Africans and those of African descent could not be citizens.
The President lived in different towns during the life of the Republic, as the capital was relocated, especially during and immediately after the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
. Washington-on-the-Brazos was Texas' first capital in 1836 (provisional), followed quickly by Harrisburg 1836 (provisional), Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
1836 (provisional), Velasco
Velasco, Texas
Velasco was a town in Texas, United States, that was later annexed by the city of Freeport. Founded in 1831, Velasco is situated on the east side of the Brazos River in southeast Texas. It is sixteen miles south of Angleton, Texas, and four miles from the Gulf of Mexico.The town's early history is...
1836 (provisional), Columbia 1836-37, Houston, 1837–39, and finally Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, the modern capital, 1839-45.
The position was abolished with the annexation of Texas, largely due to Anson Jones
Anson Jones
Anson Jones was a doctor, businessman, congressman, the fourth and last President of the Republic of Texas, sometimes called the "Architect of Annexation."- Early life :...
, who received the nickname "The architect of Annexation" and served only one year and three months. The amount of power wielded by occupants of the office varied tremendously during the nine years of Texas' independence. Particularly in the beginning, there was a larger military need than in the 1840s, and the President therefore had considerably more power and influence than during years of relative peace. However, there is no record of any President violating or changing the Texas Constitution.
As the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and other countries such as France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
recognized Texian independence, Presidential power functioned without interference from the outside world, though the Republic generally allied itself informally with the United States. Several presidents supported annexation of the Republic by the United States, with direct admission as a state.
| Presidents of the Republic of Texas Republic of Texas The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S... |
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| Name | Vice-President | Term start | Term end | |
| David G. Burnet David G. Burnet David Gouverneur Burnet was an early politician within the Republic of Texas, serving as interim President of Texas , second Vice President of the Republic of Texas , and Secretary of State for the new state of Texas after it was annexed to the United States of America.Burnet was born in Newark,... (interim) |
 |
Lorenzo de Zavala Lorenzo de Zavala Manuel Lorenzo Justiniano de Zavala y Saenz was a 19th-century Mexican politician. He served as finance minister under President Vicente Guerrero. A colonizer and statesman, he was also the interim Vice President of the Republic of Texas, serving under interim President David G... (interim) |
March 16, 1836 | October 22, 1836 |
| Sam Houston Sam Houston Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of... |
 |
Mirabeau B. Lamar Mirabeau B. Lamar Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was a Texas politician, diplomat and soldier who was a leading Texas political figure during the Texas Republic era. He was the second President of the Republic of Texas, after David G. Burnet and Sam Houston.-Early years:Lamar grew up at Fairfield, his father's... |
October 22, 1836 | December 10, 1838 |
| Mirabeau B. Lamar Mirabeau B. Lamar Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was a Texas politician, diplomat and soldier who was a leading Texas political figure during the Texas Republic era. He was the second President of the Republic of Texas, after David G. Burnet and Sam Houston.-Early years:Lamar grew up at Fairfield, his father's... |
 |
David G. Burnet David G. Burnet David Gouverneur Burnet was an early politician within the Republic of Texas, serving as interim President of Texas , second Vice President of the Republic of Texas , and Secretary of State for the new state of Texas after it was annexed to the United States of America.Burnet was born in Newark,... |
December 10, 1838 | December 13, 1841 |
| Sam Houston (2nd term) |
|
Edward Burleson Edward Burleson Edward Burleson was a soldier, general, and statesman in the state of Missouri, the Republic of Texas, and later the U.S. state of Texas.... |
December 13, 1841 | December 9, 1844 |
| Anson Jones Anson Jones Anson Jones was a doctor, businessman, congressman, the fourth and last President of the Republic of Texas, sometimes called the "Architect of Annexation."- Early life :... |
 |
Kenneth Anderson Kenneth Lewis Anderson Kenneth Lewis Anderson was a lawyer, the fourth and last Vice President of the Republic of Texas.He was born in Hillsborough, North Carolina, where he worked as a shoemaker at an early age... |
December 9, 1844 | February 19, 1846 |