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Governor Andrew Jackson Hamilton Texas governor display historical marker Historical Site marker sign attraction education information landmark Place of Interest republican Tourist Destination Travel Destination A.J. Hamilton Abraham Lincoln Colossal Jack historic marker historic site signage Travis County attractive destination educating info republican party tourist attraction United States history no people text appealing politics tourism travel United States of America historic nobody word attract daytime displays historical markers markers signs South color image historical landmarks outdoor republicans vertical appeal day educate governors historic markers Jason O. Watson / historical-markers.org historic sites colour image destinations outside tourist attractions day time TX day-time US words color images daylight outdoors USA verticals colour images natural light outsides U.S. U.S.A. sign with text |
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GOVERNOR ANDREW JACKSON HAMILTON
The First Republican Governor of Texas
Nicknamed ÒColossal JackÓ because of his imposing stature and his oratorical skill, A.J. Hamilton was born in Alabama. He migrated to Texas about 1846. A lawyer, he served as acting Attorney General of Texas in 1850. His residence once stood one mile east of here while representing Travis County in the 4th Texas Legislature, 1851-53. He donated land for establishing the State Cemetery.
Elected to the U.S. Congress in 1859, Hamilton took a Unionist stand during the secession crisis along with his friend Sam Houston and others. Because of his convictions, he was forced to flee Texas in 1862, during the Civil War (1861-1865). U.S. President Abraham Lincoln commissioned him a Brigadier General and Military Governor of Texas on Nov. 14, 1862. He had little power until he returned to Texas in Jan. 1865, when federal troops occupied Brownsville. He served as provisional Governor, Jun 17, 1865 Ð Aug. 9, 1866, during the turmoil of reconstruction. He was a leader at the constitutional convention of 1868-69, and an Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court, 1868-70. Running as a conservative Republican, he lost the Governorship in 1869 to E.J. Davis.
He married Mary Jane (Bowen) (1826-1915) and had 6 children. |