Hardin Richard Runnels

Hardin Richard Runnels (August 30, 1820 – December 25, 1873) was a U.S. political figure. Runnels served as the sixth Governor of Texas, for only one term, but notably was the only person to ever defeat Sam Houston in a political contest.

Hardin Richard Runnels
Member of the Texas House of Representatives in the Bowie District
In office December 14, 1847 – November 5, 1849
Member of the Texas House of Representatives, District 2
In office November 5, 1849 – November 21, 1850
Member of the Texas House of Representatives, District 14
In office November 3, 1851 – November 7, 1853
Member of the Texas House of Representatives, District 1
In office November 7, 1853 – November 5, 1855
Preceded by	Napoleon Bonaparte Charlton
Succeeded by	Howell Washington Runnels Sr.
5th Lieutenant Governor of Texas
In office November 5, 1855 – 1857
Governor	Elisha M. Pease
Preceded by	David Catchings Dickson
Succeeded by	Francis R. Lubbock
6th Governor of Texas
In office December 21, 1857 – December 21, 1859
Lieutenant	Francis R. Lubbock
Preceded by	Elisha M. Pease
Succeeded by	Sam Houston
Personal details
Born	(1820-08-30)August 30, 1820 Mississippi
Died	December 25, 1873(1873-12-25) (aged 53) Bowie County, Texas
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Politician

Background

Runnels was born to Hardin D. and Martha "Patsy" Burch (Darden) Runnels on August 30, 1820 in Mississippi.[1] His father died in 1842 and his mother moved the family to Texas the same year.[2][Note 1] There Runnels established a cotton plantation in Bowie County along the Red River.[3]

Elected to represent Bowie county in the Texas House of Representatives in 1847, Runnels remained a member of the state legislature through 1854.[2] During his final session, he was Speaker of the Texas House.[3] Runnels was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1855, serving in this capacity during Governor Elisha M. Pease's second term.[1][3] During his time in the legislature and as Lieutenant Governor he gained a reputation as a loyal member of the Democratic Party and an advocate for states' rights.[1]

When the Democratic Party held its first convention in Texas in May 1857, Runnels attended as a delegate.[1][2] Sam Houston had upset many voters with his pro-Union position, association with the Know Nothings during 1855, and his vote against the Kansas–Nebraska Act.[2] As a result, party leaders blocked Houston's nomination for governor and Runnels was selected instead.[1] Houston, sensing he was unlikely to be reappointed to the U.S. Senate, announced he was running for governor as an independent on May 12, 1857. While states' rights were nominally the primary issue, the resulting campaign quickly became a contest of personalities.[2] Voter anger over Houston's recent political positions continued until election day and Runnels became the only person to defeat Houston in an election by a vote of 38,552 to 23,628.[1]

During Runnels' administration, primary concerns were the slavery issue and safety of settlers in the western frontier.[2] On the slavery issue he signed a bill into law allowing a free Negro to return to slavery by selecting a new master and attempted to force the state legislature to officially support the reestablishment of the African slave trade.[1] In more general support of southern issues, Runnels repeatedly stated Texas might secede if needed.[1] On the issue of frontier security, the governor commissioned Colonel John "Rip" Ford as senior captain of the Rangers on January 27, 1858. Ford led the Antelope Hills Expedition into the Comancheria, winning the Battle of Antelope Hills in May. Later in the year, the Rangers fought an inconclusive battle in the Rio Grande Valley against Mexican bandit Juan Cortina. Despite these efforts, the Rangers failed to secure peace on the frontier.[2] As a secondary concern, Runnels advocated reductions in the level of support the state provided railroad companies, arguing that the railroads had been slow in fulfilling their contractual obligations.[3]

The Democratic party renominated Runnels as their nominee for governor during the election of 1859, with Houston again running against him.[1] Runnels, however, received most of the blame for continuing frontier depredations, while Houston had regained his popularity. As a result, Runnels was defeated by Houston by a vote of 33,375 to 27,500.[4]

After leaving office, Runnels returned to his home and never again ran for elected office.[4] He, however, remained active in politics, serving as a member of both the 1861 Secession Convention and the 1866 Constitutional convention.[3] Runnels died on December 25, 1873, and was buried in a family plot in Bowie County. His remains were re-interred in a state cemetery in Austin in 1929.[4]

Footnotes

1. Some sources indicate Runnels moved to Texas in 1841.

References

1. Harper Jr., Cecil. "RUNNELS, HARDIN RICHARD". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
2. Hendrickson, Kenneth E. Jr. (1995). Chief executives of Texas : from Stephen F. Austin to John B. Connally, Jr. College Station: Texas A&M University Press. p. 70. ISBN 0-89096-641-9.
3. James T. White & Company (1899). The National Cyclopædia of American Biography. Volume IX. New York: James T. White & Co. p. 69. OCLC 1759175.
4. Hendrickson, p. 71

Party political offices
Vacant Title last held by James Pinckney Henderson	Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas 1857, 1859	Succeeded by James W. Throckmorton
Political offices
Preceded by David Catchings Dickson	Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives 1853–1855	Succeeded by Hamilton P. Bee
Preceded by David Catchings Dickson	Lieutenant Governor of Texas 1855–1857	Succeeded by Francis R. Lubbock
Preceded by Elisha M. Pease	Governor of Texas 1857–1859	Succeeded by Sam Houston