The 1861 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on August 5, 1861, to elect the lieutenant governor of Texas. This was the first election in the state after Texas had seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States. Independent candidate John McClannahan Crockett defeated his foremost opponent Frederick Foscue to become the eighth lieutenant governor of the state.

Background

Following the election of Abraham Lincoln, the Texas became involved in the Secession crisis. There was a campaign for Texas to call a convention to vote on the issue, but only the Governor can call a special session of the legislature. Governor Sam Houston was a unionist and refused to do so. A secession convention was organized without government apporoval and Houston called fro a special legislative session in January 1861 in the hopes that the legislature would declare the rogue convention illegal. This plan backfired and a convention was legalized which approved a Ordinance of Secession. When secession was approved by referendum, Houston refused to swear an oath of loyalty to the newly formed Confederate States of America. The legislature in turn removed Houston from office and Lieutenant Governor Edward Clark was sworn in as governor leaving the office of lieutenant governor vacant.[1][2][3] The Civil War was in full swing and the conduct of the war was the core of the campaign.

General election

On election day, Crockett won with an overwhelming margin of over 72% of the vote. The legislature certified the election on November 11, 1861, and Lubbock was sworn into office on December 21, 1861.[4]

Candidates

Results

Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1861[11][a]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent John McClannahan Crockett 38,321 72.36
Independent Frederick F. Foscue 12,160 22.96
Independent M. D. K. Taylor 2,456 4.64
Write-in 23 0.00
Total votes 52,960 100.00
Independent hold

References

  1. ↑ Write-in includes "Jones" who received 13 votes and "Hemphill" who received 10.
  1. ↑ Timmons, Joe T. (October 1973). "The Referendum in Texas on the Ordinance of Secession, February 23, 1861: The Vote". East Texas Historical Journal. 11 (2).
  2. ↑ "Sam Houston, 1859–1861". Friends of the Governor's Mansion. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  3. ↑ Buenger, Walter L. (1952). "Texas Secession Convention of 1861: A Historical Overview". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  4. ↑ Day, James M. (1963). Senate Journal of the Ninth Legislature of the State of Texas (PDF). Texas State Library. pp. 6–9.
  5. ↑ Hord, John Alan (1952). "John McClannahan Crockett: A Legacy in Dallas History". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Announcements". The Navarro Express. June 12, 1861. p. 1 – via The Portal to Texas History.
  7. ↑ Niemeyer, Stephanie P. (June 13, 2008). "Frederick Forney Foscue: Lawyer, Legislator, and Confederate Soldier". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Co. F. F. Foscue". The Standard. Clarksville, TX. July 27, 1861. p. 2. Retrieved June 23, 2026 – via The Portal to Texas History.
  9. ↑ "Marion Dekalb Taylor: Life of a Doctor and Politician in Texas". Texas State Historical Association. 1952. Retrieved June 23, 2026.
  10. ↑ "For Governor..." The Daily Ledger and Texan. San Antonio, TX. June 25, 1861. p. 2 – via The Portal to Texas History.
  11. ↑ Day, James M. (1963). Senate Journal of the Ninth Legislature of the State of Texas (PDF). Texas State Library. pp. 6–9.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1861_Texas_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election