On Sept. 5, 1836, Sam Houston was elected as Texas States President of the Republic. He goes down in history and is one of the reasons Houston is a city in Texas today.
Houston was born in Virginia in 1793, making him 43 at the time of his election. Houston served in the War of 1812. In the year 1832 Andrew Jackson had sent Houston to Texas to negotiate treaties with local Native Americans so they would have protection against the border traders. Houston became a candidate just 11 days before the election. Houston got a total of 5,119 votes, while his candidates got on average 500 votes. Texas was very sure about choosing him as president because of the stability they knew he would bring.
Houston in total served a total of two terms as Texas’s president of the republic. With him not being re-elected he was left to go on with his life. In his lifetime he had eight children, and had two wives. His children went on to do great things some in his honor. He passed away in 1863 in his house beside his wife and with their loving children. With the sad death of Houston, Texas named one of their greatest cities Houston in his honor.
—
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sam-houston-elected-as-president-of-texas