Hardin Richard Runnels
b. 30 August 1820, d. 25 December 1873
- Father: Hardin Dudley Runnels b. 13 May 1789, d. 29 June 1839
- Mother: Martha Burch Darden b. 22 October 1784, d. 18 September 1867
- Hardin Richard Runnels was born on 30 August 1820 in Mississippi.
- For additional biographical information, see The Handbook of Texas Online.
- Hardin Richard Runnels died on 25 December 1873 at age 53.
- The following appeared on 13 April 1879 in The Galveston Daily News: Governors of Texas . . . Hardin R. Runnels. A native of Mississippi (and nephew of Hiram G. Runnels, once governor of that state and afterwards a citizen of Texas and collector of customs at Galveston under president Polk), was the next governor of Texas. He came to the state in 1841, and settled on a plantation in Bowie county. He was first elected to the legislature in 1847, in a close contest with the noted Horse-ear Wilson, who, while speaker of the legislature of Arkansas, killed a member on the floor of the house. After serving eight years in the legislature, two of them as speaker, he was elected to the office of governor in 1855. He was a man of plain appearance and address, but strong, good sense and indomitable will. He belonged to the ultra-southern school in politics and never tired of defending the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of '98. His health was feeble during the last years of his life, which ended in 1873, at his home in the county of Bowie. He was succeeded in the office by Gen. Sam Houston. .
- Last Edited: 25 Dec 2012