Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was a Texas politician, poet, diplomat and soldier, was a leading Texas political figure during the Texas Republic era. He was the second President of the Republic of Texas preceded by David G. Burnet who was interim President and Sam Houston, who was the first elected President. For two acts of bravery under fire, Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar received a field commission in the Texas army only a few days before the Battle of Jan Jacinto. General Sam Houston issued the commission for the young blue-eyed Georgian. In a twist of fate and irony, the two men were to become the bitterest of political enemies during the days of the Republic of Texas.