Peter Hansbrough BELL, Congress, TX (1812-1898)

BELL, Peter Hansbrough, a Representative from Texas; born in Spotsylvania County, Va., May 12, 1812; attended the public schools; moved to Texas in 1836 during the war for Texan independence; participated in the Battle of San Jacinto; assistant adjutant general of the Texan forces in 1837 and inspector general in 1839; served in the Mexican War as captain of the Texas Volunteer Rangers in 1845 and 1846 and as lieutenant colonel of mounted volunteers; colonel of a Texan volunteer regiment in 1848 and 1849; Governor of Texas 1849-1853; elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1853-March 3, 1857); was not a candidate for renomination in 1856; moved to North Carolina in 1857 and settled in Halifax County; died in Littleton, Halifax County, N.C., March 8, 1898; interment in City Cemetery; reinterred Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Tex., 1930.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present