DUANE
Duane's take
The way this marker tells it, here's the story of James Pinckney Henderson — and friend, it is some kind of story. He was born in North Carolina on March 31, 1808, and by the time Texas needed him, he was already the kind of man a young republic calls on when it's in a hurry. He arrived in Texas on June 3, 1836 — at the head of a company of volunteers, mind you — and Texas wasted no time putting him to work.
That same year, 1836, he was named Attorney General of the Republic. Then Secretary of State, 1836 into 1837. Then Minister to England and France, 1837 to 1839.
The man was barely unpacking before he was off to the next post. In 1844, he served as Special Minister to the United States — which, given what was coming, turned out to be rather important timing. Because when Texas joined the Union and needed its very first governor, the people looked around and said: well, there's only one candidate that makes any sense.
James Pinckney Henderson became the first Governor of the State of Texas, serving from 1846 to 1847. Now here's where the story turns genuinely remarkable. The Mexican War broke out while Henderson was still governor, and he didn't just watch from Austin.
He stepped into the field as Major General in command of Texas Forces. He fought well enough — fought gallantly enough — that the United States Congress voted to give him their formal thanks and a sword. A sword from Congress.
You don't see that every day. He came back. He kept serving.
And in 1857, Texas sent him to Washington as a United States Senator. He was still serving in that office when, on June 4, 1858, he died — in Washington, D.C., the city he'd spent so much of his life doing business for Texas. This marker was erected by the State of Texas in 1936, with funds appropriated by the Federal Government to commemorate one hundred years of Texas independence.
Which feels right, somehow. A man who helped build the republic, served the state, fought its war, and died in its service — remembered on the centennial, with the nation chipping in. Texas has always had a talent for the fitting gesture.
What the marker says
[front] HENDERSON [back] Born in North Carolina March 31 1808 * Arrived in Texas June 3, 1836 at the head of a company of volunteers * Attorney General of the Republic 1836 * Secretary of State 1836-1837 * Minister to England and France 1837-1839 * Special Minister to the United States 1844 * First Governor of the State of Texas 1846-1847 * Major General in command of Texas Forces in the Mexican War 1846-1847 receiving a vote of thanks and sword from the US Congress for gallantry * United States Senator from Texas 1857-1858 * Died in Washington D.C. June 4 1858 Erected by the State of Texas 1936 With funds appropriated by the Federal Government to commemorate one hundred years of Texas Independence