Peter Hansbrough Bell

Democrat Representative of Texas's 2nd district

Representative
Texas, district 2
December 5, 1853 - March 3, 1855
Representative
Texas, district 2
December 3, 1855 - March 3, 1857

Congresses Served

House Terms

May 12, 1812 (85 years old)

Birthday

March 8, 1898

Death

Served as the third Governor of Texas and was a two-term U.S. Representative.
Born in Virginia and educated there and in Maryland before moving to Texas.
Participated in the Texian Army under Sam Houston and fought at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Became a member of the Texas Rangers and fought in the Battle of Bandera Pass.
Served as adjutant general and inspector general for the Republic of Texas’s army.
Named a captain of the Texas Rangers in 1845 and protected trade routes between Texas and Mexico.
Became a lieutenant colonel in the Second Regiment Texas Mounted Volunteers during the Mexican–American War, distinguished himself at the Battle of Buena Vista.
As Governor of Texas, advocated for strong frontier defense and supported Texas’s territorial claim to New Mexico.
Called for the eradication of Native American populations and the seizure of Santa Fe from the United States government.
Signed Texas’s acceptance of the Compromise of 1850, resolving the territorial dispute.
Policies as governor included payment of Texas’s public debt and resolution of land-claim disputes.
Became friends with Jefferson Davis during his time as a U.S. Representative.
Married Ella Rives Eaton and settled in North Carolina, never returning to Texas.
Raised and equipped a regiment with personal funds during the American Civil War.
Became wealthy through the ownership of over 500 slaves, but was impoverished after their emancipation.
Texas Legislature awarded him an annual pension and land in North Carolina later in life.
Died in Littleton, North Carolina, and was reburied with honors in Austin, Texas, in 1929.
Bell County, Texas, is named in his honor.