HOUSTON, George Smith, governor of Alabama, born in Williamson county, Tennessee, 17 January, 1811; died in Athens, Limestone County, Alabama, 17 January, 1879. At an early age he removed to Limestone county, Alabama, where he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1831. He practised with success, and served in the state legislature for two sessions. In 1836 he became state's attorney for the Florence judicial district, after which he served a second time in the legislature, he was elected as a Democrat to congress in 1841, and was so continued by successive elections till 1849, when he resumed his law practice. In 1851 he was again elected to congress, serving on several important committees, and officiating as chairman of the committee on the judiciary and on that of ways and means, he was also a member of the special committee of thirty-three. He retired in 186l, when Alabama seceded. He was a delegate to the Philadelphia national union convention of 1866. In 1874 he was governor of Alabama.