Thomas Jefferson Rusk

Thomas Jefferson Rusk. . , Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Secretary of War for the Republic of Texas, Brigadier General of the Army and hero at San Jacinto, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Texas, United States Senator, he was a soldier, a jurist and a statesman. , 1803-Born in South Carolina, December 5 , 1824 - Passed his Bar Exam at age 21 , 1825 - Opened his law office in Clarksville, Georgia , 1827 - Married Mary Cleveland, January 4 , 1835 - Moved to Nacogdoches in January , 1835 - Led volunteers in the October siege of Bexar under Stephen F. Austin , 1835 - Became Inspector General of the Army , 1836 - Attended March Convention and Signed Declaration of Independence , 1836 - Unanimously elected Secretary of War , 1836 - Joined Sam Houston at Groce's Ferry, April 4 , 1836 - Led and fought at San Jacinto on April 21, then formulated the Treaty of Velasco , 1837 - Served as Representative from Nacogdoches in Second Congress from September until April, 1838 , 1839 - Participated in the Indian Wars as Major General of the Militia from January through October , 1843 - Reappointed as Major General of the Militia , 1845 - Served as President of the Constitutional Convention , 1846 - Elected as United States Senator, served through 1857 , 1857 - Died in July, buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Nacogdoches , Bold, intrepid, and daring in Battle, he was yet more honored for wise forbearance, sound judgement, and fine character. He helped form Texas and set an example for men and women to follow -- then, now, and in the future. He gave of himself.