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Ann Raguet marries Robert Irion instead of Sam Houston
On this day in 1840, Anna W. Raguet, who was courted by Sam Houston,
married Robert A. Irion instead. The eldest child of Texas pioneer Henry
Raguet, Anna was born in Pennsylvania in 1819 and lived in Cincinnati
until she was brought to Nacogdoches by her father in the spring of
1833. There she became acquainted with Sam Houston. He evidently
contemplated marrying her, for in 1833 he engaged the services of Jonas
Harrison to secure a divorce for him from his first wife, Eliza Allen.
As divorces were not granted under Mexican law, nothing came of the
application, but Houston's courtship continued. Soon after he became
president of the Republic of Texas he issued a proclamation giving his
authority to Judge Shelby Corzine to try his application for divorce in
the district court of San Augustine County, although Congress was
supposed to have exclusive jurisdiction of such matters. Houston's
attorney, W. G. Anderson, used the same petition that had been drawn up
by Jonas Harrison. The divorce was granted on April 8, 1837, but did not
satisfy the scruples of Anna Raguet, who apparently abandoned any plans
she might have had for marrying Houston. Robert Irion, secretary of
state under Houston, bore many messages between Anna and the president.
When Irion learned of the final rift between the two, he persuaded her
to marry him. The date of their marriage differs in printed sources, one
saying March 29, another March 30, and a third April 9. The couple had
five children.
- Links to Related Handbook of Texas Online Articles
- IRION, ANNA W. RAGUET
- IRION, ROBERT ANDERSON
- RAGUET, HENRY
- HOUSTON, SAMUEL
- HARRISON, JONAS
- CORZINE, SHELBY
- Other Texas Day by Day Articles for This Date
- East Texas lake completed (1965)
- Rebels defeat Spanish royalists (1813)
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