J. Pinckney Henderson | |
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| United States Senator fromTexas | |
| In office November 9, 1857 – June 4, 1858 | |
| Appointed by | Elisha M. Pease |
| Preceded by | Thomas Jefferson Rusk |
| Succeeded by | Matthias Ward |
| 1st Governor of Texas | |
| In office February 19, 1846 – December 21, 1847 | |
| Lieutenant | Albert Clinton Horton |
| Preceded by | Anson Jones (as president of the Republic of Texas) |
| Succeeded by | George Tyler Wood |
| Minister to England and France Republic of Texas | |
| In office 1837–1840 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Pinckney Henderson March 31, 1808 |
| Died | June 4, 1858(1858-06-04) (aged 50) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | University of North Carolina |
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James Pinckney Henderson (March 31, 1808 – June 4, 1858) was an American andTexan lawyer, politician, and soldier who served as thefirst governor of Texas from 1846 to 1847.
He was born inLincolnton, North Carolina, on March 31, 1808, to Lawson Henderson and his wife, Elizabeth Carruth Henderson. His birthplaceWoodside, was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1973.[1][2] After graduating fromPleasant Retreat Academy, Henderson enrolled as a law student at theUniversity of North Carolina. Upon his graduation, he studied 18 hours a day to pass his bar examination,[3] and was admitted to theNorth Carolina State Bar in 1829.[4]
After becoming a lawyer, Henderson served in the North Carolina militia, rising to colonel. In 1835, Colonel Henderson moved toCanton, Mississippi, where he opened a law practice.[4] He enslaved people.[5]
His attention soon turned to Texas' struggle against Mexico. Henderson began making speeches to raise money and an army to go to the aid of the Texas cause.[3] Henderson and several volunteers traveled to Texas hoping to participate in the fight for independence. By the time the group arrived in June 1836, many major events had already occurred. TheTexas Declaration of Independence had already been signed on March 2,[6] andDavid G. Burnet was elected interim President of the newRepublic of Texas on March 10.[7] TheAlamo had fallen on March 6,[8] andSam Houston had been victorious on April 21 at theBattle of San Jacinto.[9] On May 14, 1836,Antonio López de Santa Anna has signed theTreaties of Velasco agreeing to withdraw his troops from Texas.[10] Interim President Burnet commissioned Henderson as abrigadier general in the Texas Army, with orders to return to North Carolina to raise troops to serve in Texas. This Henderson did at his own expense.[11]
Sam Houston became President of the Republic of Texas on September 5, 1836, and appointed Henderson the republic's attorney general. In December of that same year, Henderson was named by Houston to replace recently deceasedStephen F. Austin[12] as secretary of state for the republic. In early 1837, Houston decreed Henderson as minister from the Republic of Texas to France at theTuileries Palace and to England at theCourt of St. James's. During his tenure as minister, he was successful in securing the recognition of the independence of the Republic of Texas and negotiated trade agreements with both countries.[11]
In 1840, Henderson returned to Texas and set up a private law practice inSan Augustine. He was sent to Washington, DC, in 1844 to work in coordination withIsaac Van Zandt to secure the annexation of Texas to the United States. Although the annexation treaty was signed, it was rejected by the United States Senate; Henderson was recalled to Texas.[3][13] An annexation treaty approved the United States Senate was finally passed on December 29, 1845.[14]
In preparation for anticipated statehood, theTexas gubernatorial election, 1845, elected Henderson as its first governor. He took office on February 19, 1846. When theMexican–American War broke out in April of that year, Henderson took a leave of absence as governor to command a Texas volunteer cavalry division. He served with the rank ofmajor general underZachary Taylor. He returned home to resume his duties as governor but did not run for a second term. He later served in the United States Senate from November 9, 1857, until his death on June 4, 1858.[4]
Henderson met his future wife,Frances Cox, when he represented the Republic of Texas as a minister to France and England. Cox was born inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, and educated in Europe. She was a multilingual literary translator.[15] On October 30, 1839, they were wed atSt George's, Hanover Square. In 1840, the new couple established a residence and law office in San Augustine, Texas. The couple had five children: daughters Martha, Fanny, and Julia lived to adulthood.[16]
Henderson died fromtuberculosis in Washington, D.C., in 1858, while serving as a senator for the State of Texas.[17] He is buried at theTexas State Cemetery.[18] After his death during theCivil War years, his widow and daughters moved to Europe. Martha died at age 18. Fanny married into theAustrianaristocracy. Julia married an American sugar plantation owner. Frances Cox Henderson died in 1897 and is buried atRosedale Cemetery in New Jersey, where she lived with daughter Julia and son-in-law Edward White Adams.
Henderson County,[19] which was established in 1846, and the city ofHenderson, founded in 1843 inRusk County, are named in his honor. James Pinckney Henderson Elementary School, inHouston, is named for him.[20]
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)| Party political offices | ||
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| First | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Texas 1845 | Vacant Title next held by Hardin Richard Runnels |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| New title Mission established | Texas Minister to the United Kingdom and France 1837-1842 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| New title State admitted to Union | Governor of Texas 1846-1847 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | United States Senator forTexas 1857–1858 Served alongside:Sam Houston | Succeeded by |
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  | Republic of Texas (1836–45) | |
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| State of Texas (1846–present) |
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