Alma mater Princeton College Party Democratic Party Name David Kaufman | Political party Democratic Role U.S. representative Spouse(s) Jane Baxter Richardson Education Princeton University | |
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Full Name David Spangler Kaufman Born December 13, 1813
Boiling Springs, PA ( 1813-12-13 ) Children Anna
Daniel
David Jr.
Sam Houston Died January 31, 1851, Washington, D.C., United States Similar People The Bowl, Thomas Jefferson Rusk, Edward Burleson | ||
Preceded by Thomas Jefferson Rusk Battles and wars Battle of the Neches Resting place Texas State Cemetery Succeeded by Richardson A. Scurry | ||
David Spangler Kaufman (December 18, 1813 – January 31, 1851) was an attorney, politician and diplomat, serving as U.S. Representative from Texas. When the Republic of Texas was independent, he served in both houses of its legislature, and as Chargé d'Affaires of Texas to the United States.
Contents
- Early life and education
- Military service
- Political career
- Death
- Fraternal memberships
- Legacy and honors
- References
Early life and education
David Spangler Kaufman was born in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, the son of Mary (Spangler) and Abraham Landis Kaufman. He was of German ancestry, and his paternal great-grandfather was a Mennonite minister. (Kaufman is sometimes incorrectly described as Jewish). Kaufman pursued classical studies and was graduated from The College of New Jersey in 1833.
Kaufman moved to Natchez, Mississippi, where he studied law with John A. Quitman from New York state. Kaufman was admitted to the bar in Natchez. He commenced practice in Natchitoches, Louisiana in 1835. Attracted to the developing country in the Southwest, Kaufman moved in 1837 to Nacogdoches, Republic of Texas.
Military service
Kaufman served in the military against the Cherokee people in the Texas-Indian Wars. He was wounded at the Battle of the Neches in 1839. These Cherokee had migrated to Texas from their territory in the American Southeast, to avoid being removed to Indian Territory. But the Texas president wanted to push them out of the republic.
Political career
He served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives 1838–1843. He served in the Texas Senate 1843–1845. He was appointed Chargé d'Affaires of Texas to the United States in 1845.
Upon the admission of Texas as a State into the Union, Kaufman was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-ninth Congress. He was reelected to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses, serving from March 30, 1846, until 1851. He served as chairman of the Committee on Rules (Thirty-first Congress).
Death
Kaufman died from a heart attack in Washington, D.C., on January 31, 1851. Kaufman was originally interred in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC. In 1932 his remains were moved and he was reinterred in the Texas State Cemetery at Austin.
Fraternal memberships
Legacy and honors
Kaufman is the namesake of Kaufman County, Texas, and its seat, Kaufman.