James W. Throckmorton
| James W. Throckmorton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 5th district | |
|
In office March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887 | |
| Preceded by | George W. Jones |
| Succeeded by | Silas Hare |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 3rd district | |
|
In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879 | |
| Preceded by | Dewitt Clinton Giddings |
| Succeeded by | Olin Wellborn |
| 12th Governor of Texas | |
|
In office August 9, 1866 – August 8, 1867 | |
| Lieutenant | George Washington Jones |
| Preceded by | Andrew J. Hamilton |
| Succeeded by | Elisha M. Pease |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 1, 1825 Sparta, Tennessee |
| Died | April 21, 1894 (aged 69) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Politician |
James Webb Throckmorton (February 1, 1825 – April 21, 1894) was an American politician who served as the 12th Governor of Texas from 1866 to 1867 during the early days of Reconstruction. He was a United States Congressman from Texas from 1875 to 1879 and again from 1883 to 1889.
Following the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, he joined the 1st Texas Volunteers as a private in February 1847. A few months later, he was assigned as an assistant surgeon to the Texas Rangers, until receiving a medical discharge in June of that year. During the Texas secession convention in 1861, he was one of only eight delegates to vote against secession from the United States. Despite this, he served in the Confederate Army as a captain of Company K, 6th Texas Cavalry Regiment until resigning for poor health in 1863.
Throckmorton won the gubernatorial election of June 25, 1866, at the same time the new constitution was approved, against Elisha M. Pease. During his term in the governor's office, Throckmorton's lenient attitude toward former Confederates and his attitude toward civil rights conflicted with the Reconstruction politics of the Radical Republicans in Congress. He angered the local military commander, Major General Charles Griffin, who persuaded his superior, Philip H. Sheridan, to remove Throckmorton from office and replace him with an appointed Republican and Unionist, Elisha M. Pease.
As the Radical Republicans influence began to wane in the mid-1870s, Throckmorton was elected to Congress representing Texas's 3rd Congressional District. He later served the 5th District in the 1880s.
Throckmorton died at age 69 from a fall, having become frail due to kidney disease.
References
| Texas Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Malachi W. Allen |
Texas State Senator from District 4 1857–1861 |
Succeeded by Lewis F. Casey |
| Preceded by J. J. Dickson |
Texas State Senator from District 15 1863–1865 |
Succeeded by John K. Bumpass |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Andrew J. Hamilton |
Governor of Texas 1866-1867 |
Succeeded by Elisha M. Pease |
| United States House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by Dewitt Clinton Giddings |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 3rd congressional district 1875–1879 |
Succeeded by Olin Wellborn |
| Preceded by George Washington Jones |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 5th congressional district 1883–1887 |
Succeeded by Silas Hare |
| Governors |
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|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant Governors |
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