In September 1836, Columbia, now known as West Columbia, became the capital of the Republic of Texas when the ad interim government was moved there from Velasco. After the election called by ad interim President David G. Burnet, the first permanent government of the Republic began operating there in October, with President Sam Houston and Vice-President Mirabeau B. Lamar inaugurated. Under their leadership, the first duly elected congress convened and the first constitution of the Republic was ratified. Citizens of the surrounding vicinity served the Republic, and Henry Smith of nearby Brazoria, who had earlier been the first Anglo-American Governor of Texas in the 1835-1836 revolutionary provisional government, served as Secretary of the Treasury in President Houston's cabinet. Stephen F. Austin, colonizer and Father of Texas, served as Secretary of State, but the heavy demands of that office broke his health, and he died there on December 27, 1836. In April 1837, at President Houston's wish, the seat of government was moved to more adequate quarters in the City of Houston.