Lamar, Mirabeau Buonaparte (mĭr`əbō' bō`nəpärt'), 1798–1859, president of the Texas republic (1838–41), b. Warren co., Ga. He went to Texas (1835), joined the revolutionaries, and took part in the battle of San Jacinto (1836). He held a number of offices in Texas before becoming president. During his term he secured foreign recognition of Texas independence and laid the basis for the system of public education in Texas. Lamar did not favor annexation to the United States at this time and planned to make the new republic self-sufficient, but his various ventures (including filibustering expeditions to New Mexico) disarranged the republic's finances. In 1841 he was replaced by Sam Houston. Lamar later came to favor annexation, served in the Mexican War, and was U.S. minister to Nicaragua and Costa Rica (1858–59). He published a number of romantic lyrics in Verse Memorials (1857).

Bibliography

See biographies by H. P. Gambrell (1934) and P. Graham (1938).

Lamar, Mirabeau Buonaparte

(born Aug. 16, 1798, Louisville, Ga., U.S.—died Dec. 19, 1859, Richmond, Texas) U.S. politician. After an unsuccessful career as a merchant in Alabama, he served as secretary to the governor of Georgia and later became editor of a newspaper favouring states' rights. He then moved to Texas, where he became involved in the independence struggle against Mexico. As a cavalry commander, he helped win the Battle of San Jacinto (1836) and was later appointed secretary of war in the provisional Texas government. He was elected vice president of the Republic of Texas under Sam Houston, whom he succeeded as president (1838–41). He initially opposed annexation to the U.S., but after 1844 he advocated statehood to ensure the continuation of slavery.

Lamar, Mirabeau Buonaparte (1798–1859) soldier, public official; born in Louisville, Ga. After working as a politician and journalist in Georgia, he moved to Texas and commanded the Texas cavalry at San Jacinto (1836). He was vice-president (1836–38) and then president (1838–41) of the Republic of Texas. He founded the capital at Austin (1840) and after 1844 he supported statehood for Texas.