DUANE
Duane's take
Now, I'm tellin' this one straight from the official Texas Historical Commission marker — so hold on, because this story's got more turns than a Hill Country backroad. James W. Robinson.
First Lieutenant Governor of Texas. Born in Indiana in 1800, came to Texas in 1833, and from there the man lived what you might call a full and complicated life in a full and complicated time. When Texas was still cracklin' with revolution and nobody could quite agree on who was in charge of what, Robinson got himself elected lieutenant governor in November of 1835.
And then — here's where it gets interesting — he served as governor from January to March of 1836. Governor. Not lieutenant governor.
Governor. For those two months, James W. Robinson sat at the top of the whole precarious pile.
And then, before the spring was even out, he was a private. A private. Fighting in the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836.
You can draw your own conclusions about the kind of man who walks out of the governor's chair and into the ranks, but the marker doesn't explain it and neither will I. That's just what happened. After the smoke cleared at San Jacinto, Robinson settled in Gonzales, served as judge of the fourth judicial district, and sat on the Texas Supreme Court.
Not a man who sat still. Now, since Robinson's term, thirty-five men have served in that lieutenant governor's office. Nine became governor by succession.
Seven were elected governor outright. And then there's Allan Shivers — one man who succeeded to the governorship and then stayed longer in that office than any other man in Texas history: seven years, six months, and five days. That's a number worth sayin' twice.
Seven years, six months, and five days. The first native son to serve Texas as lieutenant governor was William P. Hobby, and that happened in 1915.
The office itself is the second highest in the state. The qualifications to hold it are the same as for governor, which means at any given moment, the person in that chair could be called upon to run the whole state. The salary, though?
Same as a member of the State Senate. The lieutenant governor presides over the Senate, appoints senators to all twenty-four standing committees, chairs the Legislative Budget Board, and chairs the Texas Legislative Council. Through that broad appointment power, one person can quietly direct the course of legislation without ever signing a bill.
So when you think about James W. Robinson — Indiana boy, Texas revolutionary, governor, private, judge, Supreme Court member — you're really thinkin' about the seed of something that grew into one of the most quietly powerful offices in the state. The title says second highest.
But if you know where the levers are, second can do a whole lot of the work.
What the marker says
First Lieutenant Governor of Texas James W. Robinson (1800-1857) Born in Indiana. Came to Texas in 1833. Elected lieutenant governor in November, 1835, Served as governor January to March 1836, then fought as a private in the Battle of San Jacinto April 21, 1836. Later lived in Gonzales, was judge of the fourth judicial district, and member of Supreme Court. Since Robinson's term, 35 men have served in this capacity. Nine became governor by succession, seven were elected governor. One, Allan Shivers, succeeded to the governorship and served longer in that office than any other man: 7 years, 6 months and 5 days. The first native son to serve Texas as lieutenant governor was William P. Hobby in 1915. This elective office is the second highest in the state. Qualifications for lieutenant governor are the same as for governor and he may be called upon to succeed to that office at any time. The salary is the same as for members of the State Senate. The lieutenant governor presides over the Senate and appoints senators to the 24 standing committees. Through this broad power he may direct the course of legislation. He is chairman of the Legislative Budget Board and the Texas Legislative Council.