Jones, Anson (1798-1858), was the last president of the Republic of Texas . From 1836 to 1845, the Republic of Texas was an independent country in what is now the eastern part of the state of Texas . Jones held a number of Texas government positions in the 1830’s and 1840’s. He was president of Texas from 1844 through the end of 1845, when Texas joined the United States as the 28th state.
Anson Jones was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on Jan. 20, 1798. He was the 13th of 14 children born to a poor family. As a young man, Jones taught school and operated a drugstore while studying for a medical degree. He traveled to Venezuela in 1824 and returned two years later. In 1827, he received a medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Pennsylvania. He then opened a medical practice in Philadelphia. It was unsuccessful, however, and Jones owed many debts. In correspondence, Jones acknowledged that living in poverty had left him depressed.
Jones left Philadelphia in 1832. The following year, he arrived in Brazoria, Texas, which at that time was part of Mexico. Jones opened a medical practice, and he became a community leader. In 1835, American settlers in Texas proclaimed the region an independent republic. In 1836, Jones served under Texas leader Sam Houston in the Battle of San Jacinto . The battle ensured Texas’s independence. Houston became the first president of the Republic of Texas.
Jones returned to his medical practice and also began serving in the Texas Congress. In 1838 and 1839, he was Texas’s minister to the United States. In that position, Jones worked to strengthen the young republic’s diplomatic and trade ties. He hoped to make Texas stronger as an independent republic, and also to make it a desirable candidate for U.S. statehood. Jones served in the Texas Senate from 1839 to 1841. Later in 1841, President Houston named Jones secretary of state. Jones was elected president of Texas in 1844.
The United States officially annexed Texas in late 1845. In February 1846, Jones formally handed over authority to the new state’s elected governor. Jones had earned a reputation as a capable leader, though he was not personally popular among his colleagues.
Jones retired to his plantation on the Brazos River, but he remained active in Texas politics. In 1857, he hoped that the Texas legislature would elect him to the U.S. Senate, but he received no votes. Jones committed suicide on Jan. 9, 1858.
See also Houston, Sam ; Texas (History) ; Texas, Republic of .
