Smith, Ashbel, 1805-1886

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Confederate officer; physician; promoted to colonel and named commander of the 2nd Texas Infantry Regiment.

From the description of Civil War letter of Ashbel Smith, 1862 Nov. 20. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 154690530

Texas diplomat, lawyer, physician, soldier, educator, author, and Surgeon-General of the Republic of Texas.

From the description of Correspondence, 1843-1851. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122608759

A native of Hartford, Connecticut, Ashbel Smith was born on August 13, 1805. His formal education included bachelors and masters degrees from Yale University, as well as an M.D. from the same university in 1828. Smith continued his education in Paris before settling down to establish a practice in Salisbury, North Carolina. By 1836 he moved to Texas and quickly became a close acquaintance of Sam Houston, earning the post of Surgeon General with the Republic of Texas army. Houston also employed Smith as an aide in Texas' relations with England, France, Mexico, and other foreign powers. In the 1840s Smith worked to have Texas recognized by Mexico as an independent nation, a position that proved unpopular with Texans seeking annexation with the United States. Nonetheless, after Texas finally joined the United States he served three terms in the Texas state legislature. He fought in the Mexican War of 1846 and was a Confederate officer during the Civil War, suffering a wound to his arm at Shiloh. Smith never abandoned his vocation as a doctor and was instrumental in treating those afflicted by yellow fever in Galveston in 1839 and went on to write a respected work on the epidemic. He helped to found the Texas Medical Association and served as the organization's president in the early 1880s. Smith also fought for public education in Texas and late in life worked to establish the University of Texas, which was founded in 1883. He served on the University of Texas Board of Regents and worked to attract top instructors from around the United States. Ashbel Smith died January 21, 1886.

From the description of Smith, Ashbel, papers, 1823-1926. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 70706481

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Philosophical Society of Texas Records 99-042; 2000-030; 2003-074; 2006-260., 1838, 1935-1998 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Philosophical Society of Texas. Philosophical Society of Texas Records, 1838, 1935-1998 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Walter L. Mann papers MC023. 47108644., 1824-1866, (Bulk: 1837-1845) Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library,
referencedIn Hinton, Addison C. Hinton, Addison C. Papers, 1835-1853 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Thomas G. Rice papers MC141., 1830, 1845 Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library,
creatorOf Personal papers of Sam Houston San Jacinto Museum of History
referencedIn Friedrich Armand Strubberg collection, 1835-1962 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Houston, Sam, 1793-1863. Hearne, Madge Williams, collection, 1817-1853. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Department of State diplomatic correspondence, 1831-1832, 1835-1846, undated Texas State Archives
referencedIn Letter, 1859. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Personal papers of Sam Houston MC027. 47109709., 1832-1868, (Bulk: 1841-1863) Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library,
referencedIn Hinton, Addison C. Papers 1935., 1835-1853 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Smith, Ashbel, 1805-1886. Civil War letter of Ashbel Smith, 1862 Nov. 20. Navarro College
referencedIn J. W. Flanagan collection MC019. 46996323., 1760-1882, (Bulk: 1785-1849) Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library,
referencedIn Sam Houston Papers, 1814-1957, and undated Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Smith, Ashbel, 1805-1886. Correspondence, 1843-1851. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn J. Gail Borden, Jr. Papers 62-007; 66-032. 71016435., 1830-1910, 1932-1937 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Bowers, John Henry, 1817-1907. Bowers, John Henry, family, papers, 1854-1949. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Borden, Gail, 1801-1874. Borden, J. Gail, papers, 1830-1937. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Gail Borden Papers Col 874., 1830-1956 (bulk 1830-1860) Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Bowers, John Henry Family Papers 1961., 1854-1949 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Texas (Republic). Dept. of State. Department of State diplomatic correspondence, 1831-1832, 1835-1846, undated. Texas State Library & Archives Commission
referencedIn Biography -- Smith, Ashbel. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Gray family papers MC033. 47248938., 1826-1864 Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library,
creatorOf Smith, Ashbel, 1805-1886. Smith, Ashbel, papers, 1823-1926. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Castro, Henri, 1786-1865. Contract : Paris, France, between Henry Castro and Joseph Emmenecker, 1843 Sept. 21. Newberry Library
referencedIn Houston, Sam, 1793-1863. Houston, Sam, papers, 1814-1957. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Flanagan, James W., collector. J.W. Flanagan collection, 1760-1882, (bulk 1785-1849). San Jacinto Museum of History
referencedIn Mann, Walter L. Walter L. Mann papers, 1824-1866, (bulk 1837-1845). San Jacinto Museum of History
referencedIn Barnard, Henry, 1811-1900. Papers, 1765-1935 (bulk 1830-1899) Fales Library & Special Collections
creatorOf Gray family papers, 1826-1864. San Jacinto Museum of History
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Armand, 1806-1889. person
associatedWith Barnard, Henry, 1811-1900 person
associatedWith Borden, Gail, 1801-1874 person
associatedWith Bowers, John Henry person
associatedWith Bowers, John Henry, 1817-1907. person
associatedWith Castro, Henri, 1786-1865. person
correspondedWith Confederate States of America. Army. corporateBody
associatedWith Confederate States of America. Army. Texas Infantry Regiment, 2nd. corporateBody
associatedWith Daingerfield, William W. person
associatedWith Everett, Edward, 1794-1865. person
associatedWith Flanagan, James W., collector person
associatedWith Flanagan, James W., collector. person
associatedWith Gaines, Wm. B. P. (William B. P.) person
associatedWith Gray family family
associatedWith Hinton, Addison C. person
associatedWith Hinton, Addison C. person
associatedWith Houston, Sam, 1793-1863 person
associatedWith Mann, Walter L. person
associatedWith Mann, Walter L. person
associatedWith Philosophical Society of Texas corporateBody
associatedWith Rice, Thomas Geale, 1905-1962 person
associatedWith Texas. Legislature. corporateBody
associatedWith Texas (Republic). Dept. of State. corporateBody
associatedWith Texas (Republic). Dept. of State. corporateBody
associatedWith Texas. Secretary of State. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Texas. Board of Regents. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Tyler (Tex.)
Texas
Hempstead (Tex.)
United States
Texas
Texas
Great Britain
United States
Subject
Slavery
Cotton
Cottonseed
Diplomats
Legislators
Medicine
Occupation
Soldiers
Activity

Person

Birth 1805-08-13

Death 1886-01-21

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