Governor of Texas, US Senator. Born in Dadeville, Alabama, he moved to Texas in 1856 with his family. He attended Virginia Military Institute, graduated in 1874, studied law at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville (1876 to 1877), was admitted to the bar in Daingerfield, Texas in 1877, and began his law practice in Jefferson, moving to Dallas in 1887. Culberson's political career began when he was elected and served as Attorney General of Texas (1890 to 1895). Elected as the 21st Governor in November, 1894, he served two terms (1895 to 1899). The most talked-about event of his administration was his calling the legislature into special session to pass a law making prizefighting a felony. After being reelected in 1896, Governor Culberson supported a uniform system of school textbooks. Towards the end of his term four infantry regiments and one cavalry regiment of volunteers were raised for the Spanish- American War, although only one left the United States. After his tenure of governor, Culberson was elected to the United States Senate, where he served for 24 years as Senate Democratic minority leader 1907 to 1910) and on numerous legislative committees, the most important of which was the Committee on the Judiciary, of which he was chairman (1913 to 1919). He was forced to resign as minority leader in 1910 due to physical problems exacerbated by alcoholism. He was active in formulating domestic policy during World War I, but in 1922 was defeated in the primary by the Ku Klux Klan candidate. His health had deteriorated, and he died from pneumonia in 1925 in Washington, D.C. He was returned to Fort Worth for burial.
Governor of Texas, US Senator. Born in Dadeville, Alabama, he moved to Texas in 1856 with his family. He attended Virginia Military Institute, graduated in 1874, studied law at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville (1876 to 1877), was admitted to the bar in Daingerfield, Texas in 1877, and began his law practice in Jefferson, moving to Dallas in 1887. Culberson's political career began when he was elected and served as Attorney General of Texas (1890 to 1895). Elected as the 21st Governor in November, 1894, he served two terms (1895 to 1899). The most talked-about event of his administration was his calling the legislature into special session to pass a law making prizefighting a felony. After being reelected in 1896, Governor Culberson supported a uniform system of school textbooks. Towards the end of his term four infantry regiments and one cavalry regiment of volunteers were raised for the Spanish- American War, although only one left the United States. After his tenure of governor, Culberson was elected to the United States Senate, where he served for 24 years as Senate Democratic minority leader 1907 to 1910) and on numerous legislative committees, the most important of which was the Committee on the Judiciary, of which he was chairman (1913 to 1919). He was forced to resign as minority leader in 1910 due to physical problems exacerbated by alcoholism. He was active in formulating domestic policy during World War I, but in 1922 was defeated in the primary by the Ku Klux Klan candidate. His health had deteriorated, and he died from pneumonia in 1925 in Washington, D.C. He was returned to Fort Worth for burial.
Bio by: H M G
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