George C. Childress is credited as being the author of the Texas Declaration of Independence

George Campbell Childress (January 8, 1804 – October 6, 1841) was a lawyer, statesman and principal author of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Events 871 - Battle of Ashdown - Ethelred of Wessex defeats a Danish invasion army Year 1804 ( MDCCCIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus For the game see 1841 (board game. Year 1841 ( MDCCCXLI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link A statesman or stateswoman or statesperson is usually a Politician or other notable figure of State who has had a long and respected career in The Texas Declaration of Independence was the formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico in the Texas Revolution.

Early life

Childress was born in Nashville, Tennessee to John Childress and Elizabeth Robertson. In 1826 he attended, and graduated from, Davidson Academy. For the Davidson Academy in Nevada see Davidson Academy of Nevada. Two years later, he was admitted to the Tennessee Bar. On June 12, 1828 he married Margaret Vance. Seven years later, Margaret gave birth to a son, but died from complications a few months afterwards.

Texas

Statue of Childress at Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas. Washington-on-the-Brazos is a Ghost town along the Brazos River in Washington County, Texas, United States.

After spending some time raising money and volunteers in Tennessee for the Texas army, Childress left permanently for Texas. He arrived at the Red River on December 13, 1835, and reached Robertson's colony on January 9, 1836. The following February he and his uncle Sterling C. Robertson were elected to represent Milam Municipality (formerly known as Viesca) at the Convention of 1836. Childress called the convention to order and subsequently introduced a resolution authorizing a committee of five members to draft a declaration of independence. Upon adoption of the resolution, he was named chairman of the committee by Richard Ellis and is almost universally acknowledged as the primary author of the document. Richard Ellis may refer to Richard Ellis (astronomer, Caltech professor and former director of Palomar Observatory Richard Ellis (biologist The other members of the committee were Edward Conrad, James Gaines, Bailey Hardeman, and Collin McKinney. Collin McKinney was born April 17, 1766 and died September 9, 1861. The committee finished the drafting in only one day, leading many to believe that Childress already had gone to the convention with a draft already prepared.

The convention approved the document on March 2, 1836. The document is modeled closely on the United States Declaration of Independence with its list of causes. This article is about declarations of independence in general Although the document is dated March 2, the actual signing took place on March 3, after errors were discovered when it was read. On March 19, 1836, Childress and Robert Hamilton were sent to the United States to gain recognition of the new Republic of Texas. The Republic of Texas was a sovereign Nation in North America between the United States and Mexico that existed from 1836 to They were later replaced by James Collinsworth and Peter W. Grayson.

Later life

On December 12, 1836, Childress married Rebecca Jennings and they had two daughters. Childress attempted three times, in 1837, 1839 and 1841, to start his own law practice, but each attempt failed. In despair at his fortunes, on October 6, 1841, Childress took a Bowie knife and committed suicide by cutting open his abdomen. Bowie knife specifically refers to a style of knife popularized by Colonel James "Jim" Bowie and first made by James Black, although its common use refers

Side Note

The original Texas Declaration of Independence was not returned to Texas until June of 1896. The Texas Declaration of Independence was the formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico in the Texas Revolution. William H. Wharton had taken the original to the United States and dropped it off at the Department of State on May 28, 1836. William Harris Wharton ( April 27, 1802 – March 14, 1839) was an early Colonist, political leader and Orator in Texas Events 585 BC - A Solar eclipse occurs as predicted by Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Year 1836 ( MDCCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap

Childress Factoids

• Childress County was named for him on August 21, 1876. Childress County is a County located in the US state of Texas.
• Is buried at the Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery in Galveston
• Is one of four 'founding fathers' of Texas to commit suicide: Anson Jones and Thomas Jefferson Rusk both died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, and James Collinsworth drowned when he jumped off a boat. "Galveston" redirects here For the town in the US state of Indiana see Galveston Indiana. Anson Jones ( January 20, 1798 &ndash January 9, 1858) was a doctor, Businessman, Congressman, and the last Thomas Jefferson Rusk ( December 5, 1803 &ndash July 29, 1857) was an early political and military leader of the Republic of Texas
• The Texas Panhandle county of Childress, as well as its county seat of Childress, are named after him. The Texas Panhandle is a region of the US state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state Childress County is a County located in the US state of Texas. Childress (established 1887 Incorporated 1890 is a City in Childress County, Texas, United States.

Bibliography

• James L. Haley, Passionate Nation (Free Press, 2006), ISBN 0-684-86291-3.
• H. W. Brands, Lone Star Nation (Anchor Books, 2005), ISBN 1-4000-3070-6.

See also

• Republic of Texas
• History of Texas
• Texas Declaration of Independence

External links

• George Childress' Gravesite