Peter Hansborough Bell
Peter Hansborough Bell | |
---|---|
Andrew J. Hamilton | |
Personal details | |
Born | May 11, 1810 Democratic |
Spouse | Ella Rives Eaton |
Profession | Politician |
Peter Hansborough Bell (May 11, 1810
Background
Bell was born in Culpeper County, Virginia on May 11, 1810.[1][Note 1] He was educated in Virginia and Maryland before immigrating to Texas.[2]
By March 1836, Bell was a member of the Texian Army under Sam Houston and was present at the Battle of San Jacinto. In 1841, as a member of Capt. John Coffee "Jack" Hays's Texas Rangers, he was involved in the Battle of Bandera Pass, strategically located as a pass separating the Guadalupe Valley and the Medina Valley. His military service was distinguished and General Houston appointed him to the general's staff as adjutant general.[3] By 1839, Bell had been promoted to inspector general for the Republic of Texas's army.[2]
In 1845, Bell was named a captain of the Texas Rangers.[2] Given command of the Corpus Christi district, he protected the primary trade route between Texas and Mexico from outlaws.[3] With the outbreak of the Mexican–American War, Bell became a lieutenant colonel in the Second Regiment Texas Mounted Volunteers.[1] His actions during the Battle of Buena Vista were particularly distinguished.[2] Following the war, he returned to the Rangers and served along the western frontier.[4]
Governorship
During the
Shortly after Bell's December 1849 inauguration at age 39, the Texas Legislature created three new counties from the southern section of Santa Fe County. The governor sent Robert Neighbors to oversee the organization of the new counties. Neighbors found that the inhabitants of the new counties were hostile to Texas interests and that residents of Santa Fe had written their own constitution.
After Neighbors's report became public in June 1850, Governor Bell, aged 40, called a special session of the legislature to deal with these developments. The session was held in August, and Bell's plans were to send the Texas Militia to seize control of Santa Fe from the United States government. The issue was resolved several months later in the Compromise of 1850; Bell signed Texas's acceptance legislation on November 25, 1850.[6]
Bell won
Later life
Beginning in 1853, Bell represented Texas's
Following his 1857 marriage, Bell and his wife settled in Littleton, North Carolina. When the American Civil War began, he raised and paid to equip a regiment with his personal funds. He then served as the regiment's colonel.[1]
Having grown wealthy and living "in lordly style" from his ownership of over 500 slaves,
Bell County, Texas is named after him.
Notes
References
- ^ JSTOR 30242699.
- ^ OCLC 1759175.
- ^ ISBN 0-89096-641-9.
- ^ Hendrickson 1995, pp. 54–56.
- ^ Hendrickson 1995, p. 53.
- ^ Hendrickson 1995, p. 56.
- ^ a b c d Hendrickson 1995, p. 57.
- ^ Coyner 1899, p. 51.
- ^ "Texas Archival Resources Online". txarchives.org. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- ^ "Death List of a Day". New York Times. March 12, 1898. p. 7.
External links
- Peter Hansborough Bell from the Handbook of Texas Online
- United States Congress. "Peter Hansborough Bell (id: B000344)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Peter Hansborough Bell at Find a Grave