(1793–1863), US soldier and politician. He led the struggle to win control of Texas and to make it part of the US. He was the first president of the republic of Texas 1836–38, 1841–44 and the first US senator from the state of Texas 1846–59. The governor of Texas 1859–61, he was ousted for refusing to swear allegiance to the Confederacy during the Civil War.