Hardin Richard Runnels | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 6th Governor of Texas | |
| In office December 21, 1857 – December 21, 1859 | |
| Lieutenant | Francis Lubbock |
| Preceded by | Elisha M. Pease |
| Succeeded by | Sam Houston |
| 5th Lieutenant Governor of Texas | |
| In office December 21, 1855 – December 21, 1857 | |
| Governor | Elisha M. Pease |
| Preceded by | David Catchings Dickson |
| Succeeded by | Francis Lubbock |
| 10thSpeaker of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| In office November 7, 1853 – November 5, 1855 | |
| Preceded by | David Catchings Dickson |
| Succeeded by | Hamilton P. Bee |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| In office December 13, 1847 – November 21, 1850 | |
| Preceded by | Alexander J. Russell |
| Succeeded by | William Fields |
| Constituency | Bowie (1847–1849) 2nd district (1849–1850) |
| In office November 3, 1851 – November 5, 1855 | |
| Preceded by | James K. Holland |
| Succeeded by | Howell Washington Runnels Sr. |
| Constituency | 14th district (1851–1853) 1st district (1853–1855) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1820-08-30)August 30, 1820 Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | December 25, 1873(1873-12-25) (aged 53) Bowie County, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Politician |
Hardin Richard Runnels (August 30, 1820 – December 25, 1873) was an American politician. He served as the sixthgovernor of Texas for one term but notably was the only person to ever defeatSam Houston in a political contest. Houston, however, woulddefeat him two years later.
Runnels was born to Martha "Patsy" Burch (Darden) andHardin D. Runnels on August 30, 1820 inMississippi.[1] His father died in 1842, and his mother moved the family toTexas the same year.[2][Note 1] There Runnels established a cottonplantation inBowie County along theRed River.[3]
Elected to represent Bowie County in theTexas House of Representatives in 1847, Runnels remained a member of the state legislature through 1854.[2] During hisfinal session, he was speaker of the Texas House.[3] Runnels was electedLieutenant Governor of Texas in 1855, serving in this capacity during GovernorElisha M. Pease's second term.[1][3] During his time in the legislature and as Lieutenant Governor, he gained a reputation as a loyal member of theDemocratic Party and an advocate forstates' rights.[1]
When the Democratic Party held its first convention in Texas in May 1857, Runnels attended as a delegate.[1][2]Sam Houston had upset many voters with his pro-Union position, association with theKnow Nothings during 1855, and his vote against theKansas–Nebraska Act.[2] As a result, party leaders blocked Houston's nomination for governor, and Runnels was selected instead.[1] Houston, sensing he was unlikely to be reappointed to the U.S. Senate, announced he was running for governor as an independent on May 12, 1857. While states' rights were the primary issue, the resulting campaign quickly became a contest of personalities.[2] Voter anger over Houston's recent political positions continued until election day, and Runnels became the only person to defeat Houston in an election by a vote of 38,552 to 23,628.[1]
During Runnels' administration, primary concerns were theslavery issue and safety of settlers in the western frontier.[2] On the slavery issue he signed a bill into law allowing afree Negro to return to slavery by selecting a new master. In addition, he supported reopening theslave trade (banned at the time) and attempted to force the state legislature to go on record supporting its reestablishment.[1] In more general support of southern issues, Runnels repeatedly stated Texas mightsecede if needed.[1]
On the issue of frontier security, the governor commissioned ColonelJohn "Rip" Ford as senior captain of theTexas Rangers on January 27, 1858. Ford led theAntelope Hills expedition into theComancheria, winning theBattle of Antelope Hills in May. Later in the year, the Rangers fought an inconclusive battle in theRio Grande Valley against Mexican banditJuan Cortina. Despite these efforts, the Rangers failed to secure peace on the frontier.[2]
Runnels advocated for reductions in the level of support the state provided railroad companies, arguing that the railroads had been slow in fulfilling their contractual obligations.[3]
The Democratic party renominated Runnels for governor during the election of 1859, with Houston again running against him.[1] Runnels, however, received most of the blame for continuing frontier depredations, while Houston had regained his popularity. As a result, Runnels was defeated by Houston by a vote of 33,375 to 27,500.[4]
After leaving office, Runnels returned to his home and never again ran for elected office.[4] He remained active in politics, serving as a member of both the 1861 Secession Convention and the 1866 Constitutional convention.[3] Runnels died on December 25, 1873, and was buried in a family plot in Bowie County. His remains were re-interred in a state cemetery in Austin in 1929.[4]
Runnels was a slaveholder. In 1860, his net worth was reported at $85,000, and he owned 39 slaves.[1]
| Party political offices | ||
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| Vacant Title last held by James Pinckney Henderson | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Texas 1857,1859 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives 1853–1855 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by David Catchings Dickson | Lieutenant Governor of Texas 1855–1857 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Texas 1857–1859 | Succeeded by |
Municipalities and communities ofRunnels County, Texas,United States | ||
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