Mirabeau Bonaparte Lamar

Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar (English: Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, August 16, 1798 - December 19, 1859) was the third president of the Republic of Texas, following David G. Burnet (provisional president in 1836) and Sam Houston. Born near Louisville in Jefferson County, Georgia, Lamar founded a successful newspaper in Columbus during his early years. He later sold his newspaper company and used the money to travel west to Texas. The newspaper remains the most important newspaper in the Columbus area to this day and today it is owned by the McClatchy Company. In 1835 he moved to Texas. After hearing about the massacre at the Alamo, he joined Sam Houston's Texas Revolutionary Army as a cavalry soldier. In a daring move on the eve of the Battle of San Guisintogo, he rescued two Texans from being surrounded. The action even won praise from Mexicans. He was promoted to colonel and commanded the cavalry at the Battle of San Guisintogo. He served as President of Texas from December 1838 to 1841. Lamar was a vehement opponent of Sam Houston, and the two disagreed on nearly every issue of the new republic's development policies, from finances to policy toward Indians (he supported extermination) to admission to the United States (he opposed admission). It is said that Houston deliberately dressed like Washington when the two alternated after Lamar was drafted. When he discovered that Lamar was impatient to deliver his inaugural address, Houston deliberately extended his departure speech to three hours. Afterwards, Lamar became so angry that he couldn't give a speech and had to have his inaugural address read on his behalf. Lamar secured recognition of Texas by several European countries. He established Austin, the capital of Texas, but at that time Austin was on the western border of Texas and was very vulnerable to attacks by the Comanches. Lamar was eager to push the Texas colony westward. He even wanted to push Texas all the way to the Pacific Coast. He hoped that the Republic of Texas would become a force in North America fighting against the United States. To reduce Texas' debt, he issued new currency for the Republic of Texas. Lamar established Texas' public schools and is considered the "Father of Texas Education." There are many Texas cities with schools named after him, including Lamar University in Beaumont, Hugh