George C. Childress
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George Campbell Childress (January 8, 1804 – October 6, 1841) was a lawyer, statesman and principal author of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
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[edit] Early life
Childress was born in Nashville, Tennessee to John Childress and Elizabeth Robertson. In 1826 he attended, and graduated from, Davidson Academy. Two years later, he was admitted to the Tennessee Bar. On June 12, 1828 he married Margaret Vance. Seven years later Margaret gave birth to a son, but died from complications a few months afterwards.
[edit] Texas
In 1835 Childess raised money and volunteers while in Tennessee to go to the aide of the Texans in their rebellion from Mexico. He arrived in Texas on January 9, 1835. He and his uncle, Sterling C. Robertson were elected to represent Milam (formerly known as Viesca) Municipality at the Convention of 1836. Childress was named chairman of a five man committee by the president of the convention, Richard Ellis to draft a Texas declaration of independence. The other members of the committee were James Gaines, Edward Conrad, Collin McKinney, and Bailey Hardeman, but the text was largely the work of Childress. The committee finished the drafting in one day, leading many to believe that Childress already had gone to the convention with a draft already prepared. The convention approved the document on March 2, 1836. The document is modeled closely on the United States Declaration of Independence with its list of causes. Although the document is dated March 2, the actual signing took place on March 3, after errors were discovered when it was read. On March 19, 1836 Childress and Robert Hamilton were sent to the United States to gain recognition of the new Republic of Texas. They were later replaced by James Collinsworth and Peter W. Grayson.
[edit] Later life
On December 12, 1836 Childress married Rebecca Jennings and they had two daughters. Childress attempted three times, in 1837, 1839 and 1841, to start his own law practice, but each attempt failed. In despair at his fortunes, on October 6, 1841 Childress took a Bowie knife and committed suicide by cutting open his abdomen.
[edit] Side Note
The original Texas Declaration of Independence was not returned to Texas until June of 1896. William H. Wharton had taken the original to the United States and dropped it off at the Department of State on May 28, 1836.
[edit] Childress Factoids
- His sister Sarah married future United States President James K. Polk. (This is disputed; Sarah Childress Polk's father was Joel Childress, not the John mentioned here. Or, if George and Sarah were indeed siblings, the father's name is incorrect as given.)
- Childress County was named for him on August 21, 1876
- Is buried at the Trinity Episcopal Church Cemetery in Galveston
- Is one of four 'founding fathers' of Texas to commit suicide: Anson Jones and Thomas Jefferson Rusk both died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, and James Collinsworth drowned when he jumped off a boat.
- The Texas Panhandle town of Childress is named after him.
[edit] Bibliography
- James L. Haley, Passionate Nation (Free Press, 2006), ISBN 0-684-86291-3.
- H. W. Brands, Lone Star Nation (Anchor Books, 2005), ISBN 1-4000-3070-6.
