Last U.S. Diplomat Survives Texas Curse

Andrew Jackson Donelson crossed Feb. 5 off his 1846 calendar and made a mental note that his historic work in the Lone Star Republic would be finished in two more weeks.

The fourth and final Washington emissary to Texas was not the least bit worried about the annexation ceremony coming off on schedule. It was strictly a formality marking the death of the decade-old Republic and the birth of the 28th state.

What kept Donelson awake at night was whether he would accomplish something none of his three predecessors had managed to do