He had many accomplishments and aided Texas in securing its independence. Thomas Jefferson Rusk’s dedication, perseverance, and sacrifice for Texas has helped us Texans be where we are today. Thomas Jefferson Rusk was born to John R. Rusk, an Irish stonemason immigrant, and Mary Sterritt Rusk on December 5, 1803 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. He was the oldest of his 5 brothers and 1 sister and was educated by his mother as a child. The family had rented land from John C. Calhoun who helped Rusk obtained a secure job as a clerk in a Pendleton County District law office so he could study and teach himself to become a successful lawyer. He moved to Georgia and found work as a lawyer in the Habersham County Courthouse in Clarksville. Rusk …show more content…
Rusk followed and never regained the funds, instead he stayed in Texas and settled in Nacogdoches. He took the Oath of Allegiance to Texas with Sam Houston as witness and ten months later his family joined him. The Rusk family lived in a house in Nacogdoches they called “The Red House” because of the red clay on the outside of the house that had a red tint. Rusk soon after arriving in Nacogdoches, joined the fight for Texas Independence after hearing many Nacogdoches citizens vilify the Mexican despotism. He gathered volunteers and headed to Gonzales to met up with Stephen F. Austin’s army to prevent the seizure of their cannon. Rusk left this army prior to the Siege of Bexar and was later promoted to Captain of the Texian Army where he marched with James Bowie and Colonel James Fannin. He was later elected to the March Convention of 1836 as the delegate from Nacogdoches. At the convention, Rusk met up with other delegates from cities and towns around Texas at the Independence Hall at Washington-on-the-Brazos to write a constitution for the new Republic of Texas. Rusk helped write the new constitution and was given the privilege