Wharton, William H.

Wharton, William H. (1802–39) Texas Revolution leader; born in Albemarle County, Va. Marrying into the wealthy Groce family of Texas, he and his wife turned their plantation on "Eagle Island" into a meeting ground for those who molded the future state. Pushed out by Stephen Austin for leadership of the colonization forces (1832), he was president of the convention (1833) that wrote a preliminary Texas constitution. He was named judge-advocate of the separatist army (1835), but resigned and went east to promote Texas's revolution (1835–36). Santa Anna was captured in his absence and the revolution nearly complete, but he tried to negotiate Texas's inclusion into the United States (1836–37); he did not live to see annexation completed.