Houston, Sam

[ (hyooh-stuhn) ]


A soldier and political leader of the nineteenth century. Houston led the Texans in their struggle to win independence from Mexico. Later he served as president of the republic of Texas. After Texas became a state, he represented it in the United States Senate. He was elected governor of Texas just before the Civil War, but when he opposed the state's decision for secession, he was removed from office.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.