Sam Houston: podcast appearances and interviews

Samuel Houston, born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, was an American military general and statesman. He played a significant role in the Texas Revolution, serving as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas and leading Texian forces at the Battle of San Jacinto. Houston also served as the sixth governor of Tennessee and the seventh governor of Texas, making him uniquely elected governor of two different US states. His early life included relocations to Tennessee and a period living with the Cherokee, during which he acquired the nickname 'Raven'. He served under General Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812 and was involved in overseeing Cherokee removal in 1818. Houston was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1823, supported Jackson’s presidential campaigns, and was elected governor of Tennessee in 1827. After divorcing his first wife, he resigned from Tennessee's governorship in 1829 and moved to Arkansas. Houston settled in Texas in 1832 and helped organize its provisional government. As a military leader, he was instrumental in securing Texas independence from Mexico. He was elected president of Texas twice, in 1836 and 1841, and played a key role in the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845. Subsequently, Houston was elected to the U.S. Senate, supported the Mexican-American War, and was known for his unionist views and opposition to sectional tensions over slavery. Throughout his life, Houston owned slaves and expressed opposition to certain legislative acts related to slavery. He ran unsuccessfully for presidential nominations in 1856 and 1860, opposed Texas’s secession, and was ousted as governor in 1861. Houston died in 1863, and his legacy is commemorated by numerous honors, including the city of Houston, Texas, which bears his name.