Hubbard was the son of Richard Bennett and Serena (Carter) Hubbard. He was born in Walton County, Georgia, but spent his formative years in Jasper County, Georgia. In 1851, Hubbard graduated from Mercer Institute with an A.B. degree in literature. He was elected National University Orator, a high honor at Mercer. Hubbard then briefly attended lectures at the University of Virginia. In 1853, Hubbard graduated from Harvard University with an LL.B. degree. After graduating from Harvard, Hubbard and his parents moved to Smith County, Texas. They settled in Tyler, Texas and then on a plantation near Lindale, Texas. Hubbard first entered politics in 1855 as an opponent of the American Know Nothing Party. In the 1856 presidential election, Hubbard supported James Buchanan, who appointed him United States Attorney for the western district of Texas. Hubbard resigned in 1859 to run for the Texas legislature. He was elected and became a supporter of Southern secession.[1]
Civil War
After secession, Hubbard ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Congress of the Confederate States. Then he started recruiting a unit that would become the 5th (Hubbard's) Texas Infantry Battalion, serving as the commanding officer. Despite difficulties in recruiting infantry in Texas, the battalion became integrated into a regiment in March 1862; and Hubbard became the major of the 22nd Texas Infantry. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in May and became the commanding full colonel on June 17, 1862. Staying in the Trans-Mississippi Department the 22nd was transferred to Arkansas, where it was grouped into the 1st Brigade of Walker's Greyhounds, a division made up solely of units from Texas under command of Maj. Gen. John George Walker. Hubbard fought in the Battle of Young's Point. After serving on a military court, Hubbard returned to his regiment in time to participate in the Red River Campaign. Afterwards, he fought at Jenkin's Ferry. In February 1865, back in Texas, Hubbard was appointed commander of the 1st Brigade. He was finally paroled on July 12, 1865.[1]
Politics
Hubbard's postwar law practice, supplemented by income from real estate and railroad promotion, enabled him to resume his political career by 1872, when he was chosen presidential elector on the Horace Greeley ticket. Hubbard was subsequently elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1873 and 1876 and succeeded to the governorship on December 1, 1876 when Richard Coke resigned to become a United States Senator.[1]
Hubbard's gubernatorial term was marked by post-Reconstruction financial difficulties, by general lawlessness, and by the fact that the legislature was never in session during his administration. Though political opponents prevented his nomination for a second term, he remained popular with the people of Texas. His accomplishments as governor include reducing the public debt, fighting land fraud, promoting educational reforms, and restoring public control of the state prison system.
In 1884, Hubbard served as temporary chairman of the Democratic national nominating convention. He supported the party nominee, Grover Cleveland, and was appointed Minister to Japan in 1885 after Cleveland won the presidency. Hubbard's four years in Japan marked a delicate transitional period in Japanese-American relations. Japan was emerging from feudalism and dependency and had begun to insist on recognition as a diplomatic equal, a position Hubbard strongly supported. He concluded with Japan an extradition treaty, and his preliminary work on the general treaty revisions provided the basis for the revised treaties of 1894–99. When he returned to the United States in 1889, he wrote a book based upon his diplomatic experience, The United States in the Far East, which was published in 1899.[1]
Hubbard was first married to Eliza B. Hudson, daughter of Dr. G. C. Hudson of LaFayette, Alabama, on November 30, 1858; one daughter of this marriage, Serena, survived. Hubbard's second marriage, on November 26, 1869, was to Janie Roberts, daughter of Willis Roberts of Tyler. Janie died during Hubbard's mission to Japan, leaving him a second daughter, Searcy. Hubbard lived his final years in Tyler, where he died on July 12, 1901. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Tyler.
Trimpi, Helen P. (2010). Crimson Confederates: Harvard Men who Fought for the South. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press. ISBN978-1-5723-3682-7.
Entry for Richard B. Hubbard from the Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas published 1880, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
Sketch of Richard B. Hubbard from A pictorial history of Texas, from the earliest visits of European adventurers, to A.D. 1879, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
Jack L. Hammersmith, Spoilsmen in a "Flowry Fairyland:" The Development of the U.S Legation in Japan 1859–1906 (Kent, OH: The Kent State University Press, 1998)
Wardlaw, Trevor P. "Sires and Sons: The Story of Hubbard's Regiment." CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015. ISBN978-1511963732
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Richard Bennett Hubbard Jr November 1 1832 July 12 1901 was the 16th governor of Texas from 1876 to 1879 and United States Envoy to Japan from 1885 to 1889 He was a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War and was a member of the Democratic Party Richard B HubbardUnited States Minister to JapanIn office 1885 1889PresidentGrover Cleveland16th Governor of TexasIn office December 1 1876 January 21 1879LieutenantVacantPreceded byRichard CokeSucceeded byOran Milo Roberts16th Lieutenant Governor of TexasIn office 1874 1876GovernorRichard CokePreceded byVacantSucceeded byJoseph D SayersPersonal detailsBornRichard Bennett Hubbard Jr 1832 11 01 November 1 1832Walton County Georgia USDiedJuly 12 1901 1901 07 12 aged 68 Tyler Texas USResting placeOakwood Cemetery TylerPolitical partyDemocraticSpouse s Eliza B Hudson 1858 Janie Roberts 1869 Alma materHarvard UniversityMilitary serviceAllegianceConfederate StatesBranch serviceConfederate States ArmyYears of service1861 1865RankColonelCommands5th Texas Infantry Battalion22nd Texas Infantry Regiment1st Brigade Greyhound DivisionBattles warsAmerican Civil War Battle of Young s Point Red River Campaign Battle of Jenkins FerryCol Richard B Hubbard 22nd Texas Infantry Richard B Hubbard American Minister to Japan Contents 1 Early years 2 Civil War 3 Politics 4 Personal 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksEarly years EditHubbard was the son of Richard Bennett and Serena Carter Hubbard He was born in Walton County Georgia but spent his formative years in Jasper County Georgia In 1851 Hubbard graduated from Mercer Institute with an A B degree in literature He was elected National University Orator a high honor at Mercer Hubbard then briefly attended lectures at the University of Virginia In 1853 Hubbard graduated from Harvard University with an LL B degree After graduating from Harvard Hubbard and his parents moved to Smith County Texas They settled in Tyler Texas and then on a plantation near Lindale Texas Hubbard first entered politics in 1855 as an opponent of the American Know Nothing Party In the 1856 presidential election Hubbard supported James Buchanan who appointed him United States Attorney for the western district of Texas Hubbard resigned in 1859 to run for the Texas legislature He was elected and became a supporter of Southern secession 1 Civil War EditAfter secession Hubbard ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Congress of the Confederate States Then he started recruiting a unit that would become the 5th Hubbard s Texas Infantry Battalion serving as the commanding officer Despite difficulties in recruiting infantry in Texas the battalion became integrated into a regiment in March 1862 and Hubbard became the major of the 22nd Texas Infantry He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in May and became the commanding full colonel on June 17 1862 Staying in the Trans Mississippi Department the 22nd was transferred to Arkansas where it was grouped into the 1st Brigade of Walker s Greyhounds a division made up solely of units from Texas under command of Maj Gen John George Walker Hubbard fought in the Battle of Young s Point After serving on a military court Hubbard returned to his regiment in time to participate in the Red River Campaign Afterwards he fought at Jenkin s Ferry In February 1865 back in Texas Hubbard was appointed commander of the 1st Brigade He was finally paroled on July 12 1865 1 Politics EditHubbard s postwar law practice supplemented by income from real estate and railroad promotion enabled him to resume his political career by 1872 when he was chosen presidential elector on the Horace Greeley ticket Hubbard was subsequently elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1873 and 1876 and succeeded to the governorship on December 1 1876 when Richard Coke resigned to become a United States Senator 1 Hubbard s gubernatorial term was marked by post Reconstruction financial difficulties by general lawlessness and by the fact that the legislature was never in session during his administration Though political opponents prevented his nomination for a second term he remained popular with the people of Texas His accomplishments as governor include reducing the public debt fighting land fraud promoting educational reforms and restoring public control of the state prison system In 1884 Hubbard served as temporary chairman of the Democratic national nominating convention He supported the party nominee Grover Cleveland and was appointed Minister to Japan in 1885 after Cleveland won the presidency Hubbard s four years in Japan marked a delicate transitional period in Japanese American relations Japan was emerging from feudalism and dependency and had begun to insist on recognition as a diplomatic equal a position Hubbard strongly supported He concluded with Japan an extradition treaty and his preliminary work on the general treaty revisions provided the basis for the revised treaties of 1894 99 When he returned to the United States in 1889 he wrote a book based upon his diplomatic experience The United States in the Far East which was published in 1899 1 Personal EditHubbard was a Baptist a Freemason and a member of the Board of Directors of Texas A amp M University In 1876 he was chosen Centennial Orator of Texas to represent the state at the World s Exposition in Philadelphia Pennsylvania There he urged national unity and goodwill in an acclaimed oration Hubbard was first married to Eliza B Hudson daughter of Dr G C Hudson of LaFayette Alabama on November 30 1858 one daughter of this marriage Serena survived Hubbard s second marriage on November 26 1869 was to Janie Roberts daughter of Willis Roberts of Tyler Janie died during Hubbard s mission to Japan leaving him a second daughter Searcy Hubbard lived his final years in Tyler where he died on July 12 1901 He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery Tyler Hubbard in Hill County is named for him References Edit a b c d Trimpi pp 121 122Sources EditTrimpi Helen P 2010 Crimson Confederates Harvard Men who Fought for the South Knoxville TN University of Tennessee Press ISBN 978 1 5723 3682 7 External links EditRichard Bennet Hubbard Jr from the Handbook of Texas Online Entry for Richard B Hubbard from the Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas published 1880 hosted by the Portal to Texas History Sketch of Richard B Hubbard from A pictorial history of Texas from the earliest visits of European adventurers to A D 1879 hosted by the Portal to Texas History Jack L Hammersmith Spoilsmen in a Flowry Fairyland The Development of the U S Legation in Japan 1859 1906 Kent OH The Kent State University Press 1998 Wardlaw Trevor P Sires and Sons The Story of Hubbard s Regiment CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 2015 ISBN 978 1511963732Political officesPreceded byVacant Lieutenant Governor of Texas1874 1876 Succeeded byJoseph D SayersPreceded byRichard Coke Governor of Texas1876 1879 Succeeded byOran Milo RobertsDiplomatic postsPreceded byJohn Bingham Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiaryto JapanJuly 2 1885 May 15 1889 Succeeded byJohn Swift Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richard B Hubbard amp oldid 1127253182, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
