Samuel "Sam" Houston (1793-1863) was a soldier in the War of 1812, a Tennessee politician, an adopted member of the Cherokee nation, and one of the central figures (if not THE central) in the establishment of Texas as an independent republic. He served as a Senator from Tennessee and later from Texas, as well as President of Texas during its period as a republic. In 1861, Houston, now governor of Texas, sought to prevent his state from seceding from the U.S., but failed. He retired, and died in 1863.