Robert Anderson Irion 5201299 212450731 2008-05-14T21:32:00Z DIDouglass 656202 /* References */ '''Robert Anderson Irion''' ([[July 7]], [[1804]] - [[March 2]], [[1861]]) was a physician, surveyor and Secretary of State of Texas under [[Sam Houston]]'s first presidency of the [[Republic of Texas]]. ==Early Life== Irion was born in [[Paris, Tennessee]], in 1804 to John Poindexter and Maacha (White) Irion. He was trained as physician graduating from [[Transylvania University]] in [[Lexington, Kentucky]], in March, 1826. He began practicing medicine in [[Vicksburg, Mississippi]]. In 1832, following the death of his first wife, Ann Vick, he moved to Texas, first practicing medicine in [[San Augustine, Texas|San Augustine]]. He subsequently moved to [[Nacogdoches]], where he became a surveyor and later, as tensions with Mexico rose, he resumed his practice of medicine.<ref>[http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/II/fir4.html| Handbook of Texas Online]</ref> ==During the Texas Republic== On [[September 14]], [[1835]], Irion was elected to the Committee of Safety and Vigilance for Nacogdoches and on [[April 14]], [[1836]], was a commandant of Nacogdoches Municipality. Irion served as a senator from Nacogdoches in the [[First Congress of the Republic of Texas]], from [[October 4]], [[1836]], to [[June 13]], [[1837]]. Texas President [[Sam Houston]] appointed him secretary of state of the Republic of Texas in 1837, and Irion traveled to the United States, Canada, England, and Europe representing Texas until President [[Mirabeau B. Lamar]] appointed [[Barnard E. Bee, Sr.]] to succeed him on [[December 13]], 1838.<ref>[http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/II/fir4.html| Handbook of Texas Online]</ref> ==Memorials== [[Irion County, Texas]] is named after Robert Irion. ==References== {{reflist}} {{start box}} {{s-off}} {{succession box | title = Senator, [[Republic of Texas]] | before=unknown | after=unknown | years=1836 - 1837 }} {{succession box | title=[[Secretary of State of Texas]] | before=[[J. Pinckney Henderson]] | after=[[T.H. Bowman]] | years=1837 - 1838 }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Irion, Robert A.}} [[Category:1804 births]] [[Category:1861 deaths]] [[Category:Secretaries of State of Texas]] [[Category:Transylvania University alumni]]