George S. Houston

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George S. Houston

George Smith Houston (born January 17, 1811 in Williamson County , Tennessee , † December 31, 1879 in Athens , Alabama) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) who represented the state of Alabama in both chambers of the US Congress . He was also its 24th governor .

Early years and political advancement

Around 1811, Houston's family moved to Lauderdale County , Alabama, where he attended the Lauderdale County Academy . He studied with the later Judge George Colater Jura in Florence and graduated then graduated from the Boyle's Law School in Harrodsburg in Kentucky from. He was admitted to the bar in 1831. Houston began his political career in 1832 when he was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives . He was then elected as a solicitor , an office he held until 1841. He was then elected to the US House of Representatives, where he worked from 1841 to 1849 and from 1851 to 1861. Because of the secession of Alabama, he resigned in 1861. After the American Civil War he was elected to the US Senate in 1866 , but Alabama was denied representation. He was also a delegate to the National Union Convention in 1866.

Governor of Alabama

On November 3, 1874, Houston was elected 24th Governor of Alabama and sworn in on November 24, 1874. He was then re-elected in 1876 and served the full term until 1878. During his tenure in 1875, Alabama ratified the new constitution, reorganized the public school system, and established the Alabama State Board of Health . At the end of his tenure, he introduced a tax reduction and brought government spending under control.

Another résumé

Houston was elected to the US Senate in August 1878, where he served until his death on December 31, 1879. He was buried in the Athens cemetery. He was married twice, to Mary I. Beatty and to Ellen Irvine. The result of these connections were ten children.

According to him, Houston County named in Alabama.

literature

  • Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Houston, George S.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Houston, George Smith (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician, governor and senator
DATE OF BIRTH January 17, 1811
PLACE OF BIRTH Williamson County , Tennessee
DATE OF DEATH December 31, 1879
Place of death Athens , Alabama