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Lamar inaugurated as president of the Texas Republic
On this day in 1838, Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was inaugurated as the
second president of the Republic of Texas. His predecessor, Sam Houston,
appeared in colonial costume and powdered wig and gave a three-hour
"Farewell Address." Algernon P. Thompson, Lamar's secretary, reported
that the new president was indisposed and read his inaugural remarks.
Lamar's inaugural speech declared the purposes of his administration to
be promoting the wealth, talent, and enterprises of the country and
laying the foundations of higher institutions for moral and mental
culture. Though he had only mixed success as president, Lamar's support
for education was one of the high points of his administration. His
proposal that the Congress establish a system of education endowed by
public lands resulted in the act of January 26, 1839, which set aside
land for public schools and two universities. Although it was decades
before the school system was established, Lamar's advocacy of the
program earned for him the nickname "Father of Texas Education."
- Links to Related Handbook of Texas Online Articles
- LAMAR, MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE
- REPUBLIC OF TEXAS
- HOUSTON, SAMUEL
- THOMPSON, ALGERNON P.
- EDUCATION
- Other Texas Day by Day Articles for This Date
- The New York and Texas Land Company begins operation (1879)
- Early female land promoter and diplomat goes down with the ship (1878)
- Dan Blocker born (1928)
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