44 Facts About Francis Lubbock

Francis Richard Lubbock was a businessman, slaveholder, and politician from the American South who played a significant role in Texas history.

Francis Lubbock was the brother of Thomas Saltus Lubbock, for whom both Lubbock County and the city of Lubbock are named.

Richard Francis Lubbock, settled in Georgia and was a distinguished member of the masonic fraternity.

Francis Lubbock Saltus, was a wealthy cotton planter and shipowner in Charleston.

In 1828, the Lubbock family moved to Savannah, Georgia, where Francis's father managed the City Hotel.

Francis Lubbock parlayed his experience into a clerkship in the hardware establishment of James H Merritt, who turned out to be a very harsh employer.

Francis Lubbock's responsibilities included managing a cotton warehouse, and he began buying cotton on behalf of a large buyer, earning commissions.

Ketchum, an experienced "druggist", managed the prescription department, while Francis Lubbock handled bookkeeping and sales.

Francis Lubbock faced challenges such as selling flour to the government at a low profit and adjusting to market fluctuations, which influenced his decision to relocate from the Brazos to Houston.

Francis Lubbock established himself as a merchant, dealing in various goods, including the first barrel of flour and sack of coffee sold in Houston.

Francis Lubbock invested in real estate, purchasing land and building a storehouse and a small house for his family.

The timing was providential, as Francis Lubbock was chosen as assistant clerk of the House of Representatives when the Second Congress convened its session in Houston.

Francis Lubbock actively contributed to the development of Houston, including arranging for the importation of cisterns to improve the city's water supply.

Francis Lubbock sold his storehouse to the government for use as the executive mansion.

In November of 1837, President Sam Houston appointed Francis Lubbock to be Comptroller, a position he accepted and executed diligently.

Francis Lubbock oversaw financial matters, including the examination and approval of government claims and the countersigning of stock certificates.

Francis Lubbock played a key role in a war meeting at the Texas capitol in December 1837, serving as secretary.

Francis Lubbock was actively involved in forming resolutions and committees for vigilance and correspondence.

When Indians were attacking frontier settlements in 1838, Lubbock requested a leave of absence from the President and joined Major George W Bonnell's battalion as adjutant, embarking on a challenging campaign to protect Texas's frontier against Indian threats.

Francis Lubbock was advised to resign from his position as Comptroller, which he did when his successor was appointed.

In Houston, Lubbock partnered with James W Scott to run a commission business, becoming the only auction and commission merchants in the city at the time.

Francis Lubbock personally took on the role of auctioneer, handling the sale of various items, from small household goods to potentially larger assets like steamboats.

Francis Lubbock utilized a strategic approach, joining William K Wilson on a tax assessing tour to meet voters, and campaigning vigorously.

Francis Lubbock's efforts paid off, and he was elected as District Clerk, a position he held for over 16 years, thanks to his popularity and effective campaigning.

Francis Lubbock actively participated in the political scene beyond his direct candidacies.

Francis Lubbock was involved in supporting presidential candidates, notably General Sam Houston, in 1841.

Francis Lubbock was appointed as the secretary in a large meeting of Houston's supporters, where he was part of a committee that drafted resolutions to promote Henry Smith as a candidate for Vice-President to align with Houston's political aims.

Francis Lubbock established a principle of not engaging in speculation related to his office and made a conscious effort to treat the public generously.

Francis Lubbock was known for his love of horses, which he financed with his own money, without compromising his official duties.

Francis Lubbock acquired about 400 acres of land at 75 cents per acre on the south side of Simms' Bayou, near Houston.

Francis Lubbock found the ranch life enjoyable, balancing his duties as a clerk and his responsibilities on the ranch.

Francis Lubbock served as the Comptroller of Texas, a position that underscored his involvement in the financial management of the Republic.

However, Francis Lubbock chose to resign from this post to retain his role as the Clerk of the District Court of Harris County, an office he preferred due to its proximity to his home and its higher financial rewards.

Francis Lubbock was actively involved in the political landscape of the Texas Republic, particularly during Sam Houston's presidency.

Francis Lubbock was appointed as an aide to President Houston and served on his staff as a colonel of cavalry throughout Houston's term.

Francis Lubbock played a crucial role in organizing a meeting in Houston where Houston was formally offered the freedom of the city.

In 1857, Francis Lubbock was elected lieutenant governor of Texas as a Democrat, but failed in his re-election bid in 1859.

Francis Lubbock was known to praise the Great Hanging at Gainesville, where in October 1862, some 42 suspected Unionists were murdered, convicted and killed by hanging through sentences by a "Citizens Court" organized by Texas state troops, but not recognized under state law, with some 14 lynched without benefit even of a show trial.

When Francis Lubbock's term ended in 1863, he joined the Confederate Army.

Francis Lubbock was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel, serving under Major General John B Magruder.

Francis Lubbock was imprisoned at Fort Delaware with John Reagan and Jefferson Davis for eight months before being paroled.

On his return to Texas, Francis Lubbock continued to pursue business interests in Houston and Galveston.

Francis Lubbock died in Austin on June 22,1905, at the age of 89, making him the last Confederate Governor to die.

Francis Lubbock is buried at Texas State Cemetery in Austin.