Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/263

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

1817 became dissector to Dr. Casper Wis- tar, who was then professor of anatomy in the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1819 was made adjunct professor of anatomy under Dr. Philip S. Physick; in 1824 he dis- covered the Musculus Hornerii, an impor- tant muscle of the eye, which he described in a series of articles in the "American Journal of Medical Science" of that year; in 183 1 he was appointed to the chair of anatomy in the University of Pennsylvania, in which capacity he served until his death ; was an active member of the city sanitarj' board during the cholera epidemic of 1832; united with the Roman Catholic church in 1839; in 1847 founded St. Joseph's Hospital; in 1848 visited Europe, and was well re- ceived by scientific men ; he published **Spe- cial Anatomy and Histolog}*" (Philadelphia, 1826; 8th ed., 2 vols., 185 1) ; "United States Dissector" (5th ed., revised by Dr. Henry H. Smith, 1856) ; "Anatomical Atlas," and numerous contributions to medical period- icals, and at his death in Philadelphia, March 13, 1853, left manuscripts on theolog- ical and literary subjects; he left his fine anatomical collections, valued at $10,000, to the University of Pennsylvania, and his large library to St. Joseph's Hospital.

Houston, Samuel, born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, March 2, 1793, son of Sam- uel Houston and Elizabeth Paxton, his wife. Left fatherless in his boyhood, he was rear- ed in Tennessee, and was adopted by an Indian, and received little education. At the age of twenty he enlisted in the United States army and soon rose to a sergeantcy. His courage at the battle of Horseshoe Bend, where he is said to have received nu- merous wounds, attracted the attention of

Gen. Jackson. He was promoted to second lieutenant, then to first lieutenant, but re- signed on account of criticism by the war department. In 1818 he began to study law in Nashville; engaged in practice, and was elected district attorney. He was also made adjutant-general, and later major-general. He was elected to congress in 1823 and 1823, and governor of Tennessee in 1827. In 1829 he married a Miss Allen, whom a few weeks later he left without explanation. He left the state under a cloud, and returned to his former Indian foster-father. In 1832 he went to Texas, was a member of the con- vention, and later was made commander-in- chief of the Texas army by the convention which declared independence, and defeated the Mexicans at San Jacinto, where he was wounded. He was treated with coolness by the civil authorities and retired to New Orleans. Later he returned to Texas, and was elected its first president, and was re- elected in 1841. In 1838 he had favored the annexation of Texas to the United States, but in 1845 ^^ wanted Texas to be inde- pendent and opposed annexation. In 1846 Houston was elected United States senator, and served there until 1859, when he was again elected governor. In 1861 Texas se- ceded from the Union, Houston, a staunch Unionist, refused to take the oath of alle- giance to the Confederate government, and was deposed. He was offered United States troops to maintain himself, but declined their aid. He took no further part in public life, and died in Huntsville. Texas, July 25, 1863.

Austin, Stephen F., was born in Virginia, November 3, 1793, son of Moses Austin. He was graduated with distinction at Transyl- vania University, Kentucky: was elected to

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