James Henderson

James Pinckney Henderson (March 31, 1808 – June 4, 1858) was an American and Texan lawyer, politician, and soldier who served as the first governor of Texas from 1846 to 1847.

Early life

He was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina, on March 31, 1808, to Lawson Henderson and his wife, Elizabeth Carruth Henderson. His birthplace Woodside, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. After graduating from Pleasant Retreat Academy, Henderson enrolled as a law student at the University of North Carolina. Upon his graduation, he studied 18 hours a day to pass his bar examination, and was admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in 1829.

Military service and move to Texas

After becoming a lawyer, Henderson served in the North Carolina militia, rising to colonel. In 1835, Colonel Henderson moved to Canton, Mississippi, where he opened a law practice. He enslaved people.

His attention soon turned to Texas' struggle against Mexico. Henderson began making speeches to raise money and an army to go to the aid of the Texas cause. Henderson and several volunteers traveled to Texas hoping to participate in the fight for independence, but by the time the group arrived in June 1836, many major events had already occurred. The Texas Declaration of Independence had already been signed on March 2, David G. Burnet was elected interim President of the new Republic of Texas on March 10, and Antonio López de Santa Anna had already signed the Treaties of Velasco, agreeing to withdraw his troops from Texas. For his efforts, Interim President Burnet commissioned Henderson as a brigadier general in the Texas Army, with orders to return to North Carolina to raise troops to serve in Texas, which Henderson followed at his own expense.