Hardin Richard Runnels

Hardin Richard Runnels
6th Governor of Texas
In office
December 21, 1857  December 21, 1859
LieutenantFrancis Lubbock
Preceded byElisha M. Pease
Succeeded bySam Houston
5th Lieutenant Governor of Texas
In office
December 21, 1855  December 21, 1857
GovernorElisha M. Pease
Preceded byDavid Catchings Dickson
Succeeded byFrancis Lubbock
10th Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
In office
November 7, 1853  November 5, 1855
Preceded byDavid Catchings Dickson
Succeeded byHamilton P. Bee
Member of the
Texas House of Representatives
In office
December 13, 1847  November 21, 1850
Preceded byAlexander J. Russell
Succeeded byWilliam Fields
ConstituencyBowie (1847–1849)
2nd district (1849–1850)
In office
November 3, 1851  November 5, 1855
Preceded byJames K. Holland
Succeeded byHowell Washington Runnels Sr.
Constituency14th district (1851–1853)
1st district (1853–1855)
Personal details
Born(1820-08-30)August 30, 1820
Mississippi, U.S.
DiedDecember 25, 1873(1873-12-25) (aged 53)
Bowie County, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ProfessionPolitician

Hardin Richard Runnels (August 30, 1820 December 25, 1873) was an American politician. He served as the sixth governor of Texas for one term but notably was the only person to ever defeat Sam Houston in a political contest.