Edward Burleson

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For other uses, see Edward Burleson (disambiguation).

Edward Burleson (December 15, 1798–December 26, 1851) was a soldier, general, and statesman in the state of Missouri, the Republic of Texas, and later the U.S. state of Texas.

Known as the "Old Indian Fighter", Burleson was a veteran of the War of 1812 and had served in the Missouri and Texas militias. In October 1835 he was appointed a lieutenant colonel in the Texas army and served under Stephen Austin in the opening stages of the Texas Revolution. During the Siege of Béxar, Burleson served as the second-in-command to Gen. Austin and in November 1835 he was elected Major General of Texas Volunteers and took command of the Volunteer army besieging San Antonio de Béxar and received the surrender of Mexican general Martín Perfecto de Cos. In March he was appointed a Colonel of Texas Regulars and led the First Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Runaway Scrape and at the Battle of San Jacinto.

Burleson continued to serve in the army after the war and was eventually promoted Brigadier General of Texas Regulars. He also served as vice president of Texas and was involved in the Mexican-American War before he died in 1851.

The location of his grave in Austin is in what later became the Texas State Cemetery.

Both Burleson County, Texas and the city of Burleson, Texas (located mainly in Johnson County, Texas) are named after him. Edward Burleson Raymond, the founder of Raymondville, Texas, was named in honor of Edward Burleson.

[edit] External links

Edward Burleson from the Handbook of Texas Online
Entry for Edward Burleson from the Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas published 1880, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
Sketch of Edward Burleson from A pictorial history of Texas, from the earliest visits of European adventurers, to A.D. 1879, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.

Preceded by None	Texas State Senator from District 15 1846–1849	Succeeded by Wilds K. Cooke
Preceded by Robert McAlpin Williamson	Texas State Senator from District 16 1849–1850	Succeeded by William S. Day
Preceded by H. Clay Davis	Texas State Senator from District 21 1851	Succeeded by John Salmon “Rip” Ford
Preceded by None	*President pro tempore* of the Texas Senate** 1846–1851	Succeeded by Jesse Grimes