David S. Kaufman

David S. Kaufman
United States Congressman Texas 1st Congressional District
In office 1846–1851
Succeeded by	Richardson A. Scurry
Republic of Texas Chargé d'affaires to the United States
In office 1845–1846
Republic of Texas Senator
In office 1843–1845
Member Republic of Texas House of Representatives
In office 1838–1841
Personal details
Born	David Spangler Kaufman December 13, 1813(1813-12-13) Boiling Springs, PA
Died	January 31, 1851(1851-01-31) (aged 37) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Texas State Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Jane Baxter Richardson
Children	Anna Daniel David Jr. Sam Houston
Alma mater	Princeton College
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Judaism
Military service
Allegiance	Republic of Texas Army
Rank	Aide to Gen. Thomas J. Rusk
Battles/wars	Battle of the Neches

David Spangler Kaufman (December 18, 1813 – January 31, 1851) was a U.S. Representative from Texas. He was the first Jew elected to Congress from Texas.

Early life and education

Born in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania to German Jewish parents, Kaufman pursued classical studies and was graduated from Princeton College in 1833.^[1]

He studied law and was admitted to the bar in Natchez, Mississippi. He commenced practice in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Attracted by the developing country in the Southwest, Kaufman moved to Nacogdoches, Republic of Texas, in 1837.

Military service

He served in the military against the Native Americans and was wounded at the Battle of the Neches.

Public service

He served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives 1838-1843. He served in the Texas Senate 1843-1845. He was appointed Chargé d'Affaires of Texas to the United States in 1845.^[2]

Upon the admission of Texas as a State into the Union, Kaufman was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-ninth Congress. He was reelected to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses and served from March 30, 1846, until 1851. He served as chairman of the Committee on Rules (Thirty-first Congress).

Death

Kaufman died from a heart attack^[2] in Washington, D.C., on January 31, 1851. Kaufman was originally interred in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC. In 1932 he was reinterred in the Texas State Cemetery at Austin, Texas, in 1932.^[3]

Fraternal memberships

• Freemasons^[4]
• The Philosophical Society of Texas^[5]

Legacy and honors

• Kaufman County, Texas was named after him.

References

1. ^ Ornish, Natalie: David Spangler Kaufman from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 8 July 2010. Texas State Historical Association
2. ^ ^{a b} Guttery, Ben R (2008). Representing Texas: A Comprehensive History of U.S. and Confederate Senators and Representatives from Texas. BookSurge Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 978-1419678844. 
3. ^ "David Spangler Kaufman final resting place". Texas State Cemetery. http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?step=1&pers_id=32. Retrieved 25 June 2010. 
4. ^ Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "DSKaufman-The Political Graveyard". The Political Graveyard. http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/kaufman.html. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
5. ^ Gambrell, Herbert: The Philosophical Society of Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 8 July 2010. Texas State Historical Association

Source

• David S. Kaufman at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

Biography portal

• David S. Kaufman at Find a Grave
• The Handbook of Texas Online: Kaufman, Texas

Persondata
Name	Kaufman, David Spangler
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 13, 1813
Place of birth	Boiling Springs, PA
Date of death	January 31, 1851
Place of death	Washington, D.C.