James W. Henderson

James Wilson Henderson
4th Governor of Texas
In office November 23, 1853 – December 21, 1853
Lieutenant	Vacant
Preceded by	Peter Hansborough Bell
Succeeded by	Elisha M. Pease
3rd Lieutenant Governor of Texas
In office August 4, 1851 – November 23, 1853
Governor	Peter Hansborough Bell
Preceded by	John Alexander Greer
Succeeded by	David Catchings Dickson
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
In office 1843
Personal details
Born	August 15, 1817 Sumner County, Tennessee
Died	August 30, 1880 (aged 63) Houston, Texas
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Saphira Elizabeth Price Laura A. Hooker (June 6, 1848-July 21, 1856)
Profession	Surveyor, Army Captain

James Wilson Henderson (August 15, 1817 – August 30, 1880) was the fourth Governor of Texas from November 23, 1853 to December 21, 1853.

Born on August 15, 1817 in Sumner County, Tennessee, Henderson moved to Texas when he was 19 to join the struggle for independence, but he arrived too late to participate. He settled in Harris County and became the county surveyor, also studying law. In 1842, he enlisted in the Somervelle Expedition. In 1843, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, and in 1847, became Speaker of the House. He was elected Lieutenant Governor on August 4, 1851 and became the fourth Governor of Texas on November 23, 1853 upon the resignation of his predecessor, Peter Hansborough Bell.

Henderson served the last 28 days of Bell's term of office when Bell resigned to take the vacant seat in the United States Congress from the Western District of Texas.

During the Civil War, he joined the Confederate Army as a captain.

He died on August 30, 1880 in Houston.

External links

• James Wilson Henderson from the Handbook of Texas Online
• "Portraits of Texas Governors". Texas State Library and Archives Commission