James W. Henderson

James Wilson Henderson (August 15, 1817 – August 30, 1880) was an American surveyor and politician who served as the fourth governor of Texas from November to December 1853.

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 December 22, 1851 – November 23, 1853
Governor	Peter Hansborough Bell
Preceded by	John Alexander Greer
Succeeded by	David Catchings Dickson
7th Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
In office December 13, 1847 – November 5, 1849
Preceded by	Stephen W. Perkins
Succeeded by	Charles G. Keenan
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
In office December 13, 1847 – November 5, 1849
In office November 2, 1857 – November 4, 1861
Member of the Republic of Texas House of Representatives
In office 1843–1845
Personal details
Born	August 15, 1817 Sumner County, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	August 30, 1880(1880-08-30) (aged 63) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Laura A. Hooker ​ ​ (m. 1848; died 1856)​ Saphira Elizabeth Price ​ ​ (m. 1858)​
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Biography

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.^[1] He was elected Lieutenant Governor on August 4, 1851, and was inaugurated on December 21. He became the fourth Governor of Texas on November 23, 1853, upon the resignation of his predecessor, Peter Hansborough Bell,^[2] serving the last 28 days of his term.

During the Civil War, he joined the Confederate Army as a captain under General John B. Magruder. In 1871, Henderson was vice president of the state Democratic Convention.^[2] He died on August 30, 1880, at the age of 63, in Houston.