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Governor of Texas from 1883 to 1887

John Ireland (January 1, 1827March 15, 1896) was the 18th Governor of Texas from 1883 to 1887. During Ireland's term, the University of Texas was established, and construction on the Texas State Capitol began. Ireland is credited with the selection of local pink granite as the construction material.

Ireland was born on January 1, 1827 in Hart County, Kentucky to Irish immigrants Patrick Ireland and the former Rachel Newton. Although he had little formal education, when he was 18 he was appointed deputy sheriff of the county. At 24 years of age he decided to study law, and was admitted to the bar. In 1852, Ireland moved to Texas, where he settled in Seguin and practiced law. He enlisted in the Confederate States Army as a private and eventually worked his way through the ranks to that of lieutenant colonel. The new state constitution reduced the number of associate justices on the supreme court, and in 1876 Ireland lost his position. One of his first acts as governor was to have an amendment added to the state constitution establishing an ad valorem tax. He also reversed the policy of selling public lands. Ireland's land policy led to cattle ranchers accumulating large areas of land. This practice often cut farmers and other ranchers off from water. During a large drought in early 1883, people began cutting the barbed wire, leading to violence between the ranchers and farmers. This practice soon led to the Fence Cutting War. Ireland called a special session of the legislature in 1884 that passed a law allowing the Texas Rangers to intervene in these disputes. The Rangers were able to quell some, but not all, of the violence. The same year, Ireland won reelection for his second term as governor. Construction began on the new Texas State Capitol building during Ireland's tenure. At his insistence, the building was constructed of Texas pink granite instead of imported Indiana limestone. In 1887 Ireland attempted again to run for a U. S. Senate seat, but lost the race, ending his political career.

After retiring from politics, Ireland returned to Seguin to practice law. His profits were invested in land and railroad stocks, and during the Panic of 1893, he lost all of his holdings. He died on March 15, 1896, and is interred at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. The small community of Ireland, Texas in Coryell County is named after Ireland.