Hardin Richard Runnels

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Hardin Richard Runnels

Hardin R. Runnels (born August 30, 1820 in Mississippi , †  December 25, 1873 in Bowie County , Texas ) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ) and the 6th  governor of the state of Texas.

Runnels was born to Hardin D. Runnels and Martha "Patsy" Burch (née Darden) in the state of Mississippi. His father died in 1839, and in 1842 he moved to Texas with his mother, three brothers, and uncle Hiram Runnels . The uncle was governor of Mississippi from 1833 to 1835. The family first settled on the Brazos River , but shortly afterwards they moved to Bowie County, where they built a cotton plantation on the Red River . He served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1847 to 1855 for the second, third, fourth, and fifth terms of the Texas Legislature . In 1853 he followed David Catchings Dickson as speaker this Chamber of Parliament.

On December 21, 1857 after serving as Lieutenant Governor (1855-1857) he succeeded Elisha M. Pease Governor of Texas and remained in office until December 21, 1859. His successor was Sam Houston , the former President of the Republic of Texas .

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