4th Texas Governor. Born in Sumner County, Tennessee, he traveled to Texas at age nineteen to participate in the war for independence, but arrived after the Battle of San Jacinto. He settled in Harris County, became the county surveyor, studying law in his spare time, and was admitted to the bar. From 1843 to 1847 he served two terms each in the Texas House of Representatives and, after annexation, the House of the First Texas Legislature; in the latter he was chosen as house speaker during his second term. Henderson was elected Lieutenant Governor August 4, 1851, and was inaugurated as the 4th Texas Governor on November 23, 1853, after Governor Peter H. Bell resigned his office. He served until December 21 of that year, a total of 28 days. He was then re-elected to the legislature in 1857. After the Civil War, Henderson was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1866, a member of the executive committee at the Democratic state Convention in 1868 and vice president of the state Democratic convention in 1871. He became paralyzed in 1877 and died at the home of his sister in Houston.
4th Texas Governor. Born in Sumner County, Tennessee, he traveled to Texas at age nineteen to participate in the war for independence, but arrived after the Battle of San Jacinto. He settled in Harris County, became the county surveyor, studying law in his spare time, and was admitted to the bar. From 1843 to 1847 he served two terms each in the Texas House of Representatives and, after annexation, the House of the First Texas Legislature; in the latter he was chosen as house speaker during his second term. Henderson was elected Lieutenant Governor August 4, 1851, and was inaugurated as the 4th Texas Governor on November 23, 1853, after Governor Peter H. Bell resigned his office. He served until December 21 of that year, a total of 28 days. He was then re-elected to the legislature in 1857. After the Civil War, Henderson was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1866, a member of the executive committee at the Democratic state Convention in 1868 and vice president of the state Democratic convention in 1871. He became paralyzed in 1877 and died at the home of his sister in Houston.
Bio by: H M G
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