Jones, Anson, 1798-1858

President of Texas (Republic), physician, and a public official of Texas (Republic).

Anson Jones (1798-1858) was a doctor, congressman, diplomatic minister, and President of the Republic of Texas. Son of Solomon and Sarah (Strong) Jones, he was born in Massachusetts and practiced medicine in New York and Pennsylvania. Jones practiced medicine in Venezuela from 1824 to 1826 to raise money for medical school. The next year he returned to Pennsylvannia to earn an M.D. from Jefferson Medical College and became a Freemason. In 1832, he traveled to New Orleans as a commission merchant, moving a year later to Brazoria, Texas. He fought during the Texas Revolution in Robert Calder's company at the Battle of San Jacinto. Jones served as a member of the Second Texas Congress and in 1838 was appointed by President Sam Houston as minister to the United States. After President Mirabeau Lamar recalled Jones, he served as a Texas senator following the death of William H. Wharton. In 1841, President Houston appointed Jones secretary of state, where he helped develop Texas's foreign policy. In 1844, Jones became the fourth and last President of the Republic of Texas. During his term, he actively sought options for independence as well as annexation by the U.S. When Mexico formally recognized Texas as independent, the people were angered that Jones had not solely pursued annexation. The Texas Congress rejected the peace treaty and limited Jones’ official duties. When the U.S. annexed Texas in 1846, he retired to his plantation near Washington-on-the-Brazos and worked on his book, Republic of Texas (New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1859).

In 1840, Anson Jones married Mary (Mrs. Hugh) McCrory, née Smith (1819-1907), first President of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and the couple had four children: Charles Elliot, who died during the Civil War; Samuel Edward, a doctor; Cromwell Anson (1850-1888), a lawyer who controlled most of his father's estate lands; and Sarah Sophia (Sallie) Jones. Sallie married R.G. Ashe, and they had several children, including Willie G., Charles E., and Myra, wife of Clayton Scott.

Sources:

Anson Jones Papers, 1809-1910, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Gambrell, Herbert. Jones, Anson. Handbook of Texas Online, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/JJ/fjo42.html (accessed May 10, 2010).

Himmel, Richard L. Jones, Mary Smith. Handbook of Texas Online, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/JJ/fjo42.html (accessed May 18, 2010).

Mary (Mrs. Anson) Jones Letters, 1866-1882, the University of Houston Libraries' Special Collections.

Archives & Manuscripts, Texas State Library & Archives Commission. President Anson Jones. Texas State Library & Archives Commission. http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/presidents/jones/intro.html (accessed June 15, 2010).

Anson Jones (1798-1858) was a doctor, congressman, diplomatic minister, and President of the Republic of Texas.

Son of Solomon and Sarah (Strong) Jones, he was born in Massachusetts and practiced medicine in New York and Pennsylvania. Jones practiced medicine in Venezuela from 1824 to 1826 to raise money for medical school. The next year he returned to Pennsylvannia to earn an M.D. from Jefferson Medical College and became a Freemason. In 1832, he traveled to New Orleans as a commission merchant, moving a year later to Brazoria, Texas. He fought during the Texas Revolution in Robert Calder's company at the Battle of San Jacinto. Jones served as a member of the Second Texas Congress and in 1838 was appointed by President Sam Houston as minister to the United States. After President Mirabeau Lamar recalled Jones, he served as a Texas senator following the death of William H. Wharton. In 1841, President Houston appointed Jones secretary of state, where he helped develop Texas's foreign policy. In 1844, Jones became the fourth and last President of the Republic of Texas. During his term, he actively sought options for independence as well as annexation by the U.S. When Mexico formally recognized Texas as independent, the people were angered that Jones had not solely pursued annexation. The Texas Congress rejected the peace treaty and limited Jones' official duties. When the U.S. annexed Texas in 1846, he retired to his plantation near Washington-on-the-Brazos and worked on his book, Republic of Texas (New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1859).

In 1840, Anson Jones married Mary (Mrs. Hugh) McCrory, née Smith (1819-1907), first President of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and the couple had four children: Charles Elliot, who died during the Civil War; Samuel Edward, a doctor; Cromwell Anson (1850-1888), a lawyer who controlled most of his father's estate lands; and Sarah Sophia (Sallie) Jones.

Sallie married R.G. Ashe, and they had several children, including Willie G., Charles E., and Myra, wife of Clayton Scott.

Sources:

Anson Jones Papers, 1809-1910, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Gambrell, Herbert. Jones, Anson.Handbook of Texas Online, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/JJ/fjo42.html (accessed May 10, 2010).

Himmel, Richard L. Jones, Mary Smith.Handbook of Texas Online, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/JJ/fjo42.html (accessed May 18, 2010).

Mary (Mrs. Anson) Jones Letters, 1866-1882, the University of Houston Libraries' Special Collections.

Archives & Manuscripts, Texas State Library & Archives Commission. President Anson Jones. Texas State Library & Archives Commission. http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/exhibits/presidents/jones/intro.html (accessed June 15, 2010).