Barnard E. Bee Sr.

Barnard Elliot Bee Sr. (1787–1853) was an attorney and politician. A native of South Carolina, he moved to the Southwest in 1836, where he and his family were early settlers in the Republic of Texas. He became a political leader there, serving in several political appointee positions in the republic.

Early life and education

Barnard Bee was born in Charleston, South Carolina, one of several siblings, the son of Thomas Bee and Susannah (Bulline) Bee, both of planter families. His father was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a US Congressman. Barnard studied law, and became an attorney.

Marriage and family

Bee married Ann Wragg Fayssoux of Charleston, from a prominent Anglo-French family. Her father's line was of French Huguenot descent. They had two sons, Hamilton Prioleau Bee (b. 1822) and Barnard E. Bee Jr. (B. 1824). Hamilton Bee followed his father into politics, serving first in the Republic of Texas Senate in 1846. He was elected to the Texas legislature in 1849 and served for more than 10 years; in 1855 he was elected as speaker of the house.^[1] Both sons served in the Confederate Army as generals during the American Civil War. Barnard Bee Jr. was one of the first Confederate general officers to be killed in the war.

Political career

Bee served on the staff of his brother-in-law, James Hamilton Jr., governor of South Carolina from 1830-1832.

In 1836, Bee moved his family to Texas and took part in the Texas Revolution. He settled near Houston. Bee served the young Republic in a number of political offices: as Secretary of the Treasury in 1836, Secretary of War from 1837–1838 and Secretary of State from 1839-1839. In 1839, Texas sent him as an agent to negotiate permanent peace and borders with Mexico. His offers were rejected. He began his return by sailing to Cuba, then obtained passage to Washington, D.C..

The Texas government appointed him as minister (ambassador) to the United States. He served in that post from April 20, 1840 to December 13, 1841. He negotiated with Daniel Webster and settled the formal treaty by which the United States recognized Texas.

Later years

After his return to Texas, Bee generally took up a private life again. Strongly opposed to the annexation of Texas into the United States, afterward he returned to South Carolina.

He died there in 1853, and is buried in St Paul’s Churchyard in Pendleton, South Carolina. His sons, Hamilton Prioleau Bee and Barnard E. Bee Jr. both served as generals in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; Barnard Jr. was one of the first general officers killed in the war. Hamilton P. Bee later moved to Texas, where he served about 10 years in the state house, being elected as speaker in 1855.^[1]

Legacy and honors

• Bee County and the city of Beeville in Texas are named in his honor.
• His grandson Carlos Bee was elected and served as a US Congressman from Texas.

References

1. Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Texas, Sixth Legislature. (pdf). Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives. Austin, Texas: Marshall & Oldham, State Printers. 1855. pp. 5–6. Retrieved 2007-01-16.

External links

• Barnard Elliot Bee Sr. from the Handbook of Texas
• Barnard E. Bee Sr. at Find a Grave
• Entry about Barnard E. Bee from the Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas published 1880, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.