James W. Throckmorton

Biography

Following the outbreak of a 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. ne of the negative votes is enshrined in Texas history books. James Webb Throckmorton, from Collin County in North Texas, in response to the roar of hisses and boos and catcalls which greeted his decision, retorted, "When the rabble hiss, well may patriots tremble." Appreciating his style, the crowd afforded him a grudging round of applause (like many Texans who initially opposed secession, Throckmorton accepted the result and served his state, rising to the rank of brigadier-general in the Confederate army). . Despite this, he served in the Confederate Army, first as a captain of Company K, 6th Texas Cavalry Regiment.

He was promoted to brigadier general by 1862. During late 1862 while stationed in North Texas, which was chaotic because of military and state militia abuses, he saved all but five men in Sherman, Texas, from being lynched by militia as suspects in anticonscription activities. Violent acts had spread in North Texas after the Great Hanging at Gainesville earlier in October 1862, when a total of 42 men were killed, most hanged.

Throckmorton defeated Elisha M. Pease in the Texas gubernatorial election of June 25, 1866, at the same time that the legislature approved a new constitution. He was elected with George Washington Jones as Lt. Gov. During his term as governor, 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 Elisha M. Pease, an appointed Republican and Unionist.

As the Radical Republicans' influence began to wane in the mid-1870s, Throckmorton was elected to Congress representing Texas's 3rd Congressional District in 1874 and re-elected in 1876. He was not a candidate in 1878. He again later served the 5th District, elected in 1882 and re-elected in 1884. He was not a candidate in 1886. In 1882 he was elected to the seat vacated by his former Lt. Gov. George Washington Jones, as G.W. Jones did not run for re-election.

Throckmorton died at age 69 from a fall, having become frail due to kidney disease.

References

References

1. Minor, David. (November 1, 2011). "Throckmorton, James Webb". Texas State Historical Association.
2. McCaslin, Richard B.. "Great Hanging of Texas". Texas State Historical Association.
3. "Throckmorton, James Webb". United States Congress.
4. "Throckmorton, James Webb". Texas State Historical Association.
5. "Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers who served during the Mexican War in Organizations from the State of Texas". National Archives.
6. "Throckmorton, James W". National Park Service.