George Childress Information & George Childress Links at HealthHaven.com

George C. Childress is credited as being the author of the Texas Declaration of Independence

George Campbell Childress (January 8, 1804 – October 6, 1841) was a lawyer, statesman and was a principal author of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

[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] 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.HAD 300 kids and a family

[edit] Side Note

The original Texas Declaration of Independence was not returned to Texas until June 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

Childress County, located on the edge of the Texas Panhandle, was named for him on August 21, 1876. In addition, its county seat (Childress, Texas) was also named for him.
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.

[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.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

George Childress' Gravesite

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