OVERVIEW:

FULL NAME:
Thomas Jefferson Rusk

BORN:
December 5, 1803
Pendleton, South Carolina,

DIED:
July 29, 1857 (age 53)
Nacogdoches, Texas

POLITICAL PARTY:
Democrat

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1836-1837:
Texas Secretary of War
1836:
Commanded Forces at the Battle of San Jacinto 
1837-1838:
Member of the Second Congress of the Republic of Texas 
1838-1842:
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Texas
1843:
Appointed Major General of the militia of the Republic of Texas
1845:
President of the convention that confirmed that annexation of Texas to the United States 
1846-1857:
U.S. Senator (D-TX)
March 14, 1857- July 29, 1857:
President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate 

RESOURCES: 
Biographical Directory of Congress
Texas State Historical Association
Wikipedia