Samuel Maverick
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- For the 17th-century English colonist in Massachusetts, see Samuel Maverick (colonist) (1602–1670).
Samuel Augustus Maverick (July 23, 1803–September 2, 1870) was a Texas lawyer, politician, and land baron.
Born near Pendleton, South Carolina, he was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Anderson) Maverick. He received his B.A. from Yale College in 1825 then studied law in Winchester, Virginia. In 1829, having returned to South Carolina, he was admitted to the bar. He left South Carolina after a duel with a man who had criticized a speech his father made about John C. Calhoun's stance on the Nullification Question. He arrived in Texas in 1835. In San Antonio when Stephen Austin laid siege to it, he was arrested by Mexican forces. They released him when he promised to return to the United States but he instead joined the Texas army under General Edward Burleson that attacked San Antonio on December 5, 1835. He was part of the garrison at the Alamo, but left before Santa Anna's attack to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence at Washington-on-the-Brazos.
He left Texas to marry, returning in 1838. When Santa Anna invaded Texas in 1842, he was captured and imprisoned near Mexico City. During his captivity, he was elected and re-elected to the Texas Congress. He moved to Matagorda County, Texas in 1844 and was elected to the state legislature. After returning to San Antonio, he was again elected to the legislature. He supported Sam Houston in his call to support the Union when others urged secession. Nevertheless, he voted for secession as a member of the convention.
He was not active in politics during the Civil War but afterward helped John H. Reagan to organize the Democratic party once more. He died in San Antonio.
Maverick County, Texas is named for him. U.S. Representative from Texas Maury Maverick (1896–1964) was his grandson.
Maverick is also the namesake of the eponym maverick meaning an unbranded range animal.
[edit] External links
- Samuel Augustus Maverick from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Read an entry about Samuel A. Maverickfrom the Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas published 1880, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
- Maverick Americans
| Preceded by None |
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 70 (San Antonio) 1853–1855 |
Succeeded by William H. Cleveland |
| Preceded by Isaiah Addison Paschal |
Texas State Senator from District 31 (San Antonio) 1855–1859 |
Succeeded by Gustav Schleicher |
| Preceded by M. D. K. Taylor |
President pro tempore of the Texas Senate 1858–1859 |
Succeeded by Jesse Grimes |
| Preceded by unknown |
Member of the Texas House of Representatives 1859–1863 |
Succeeded by unknown |
