Pleasant Williams Kittrell

Pleasant Williams Kittrell (April 13, 1805 – ), commonly known as P. W. Kittrell, was an American medical doctor, politician, and planter. He was Sam Houston's personal physician, a member of the Texas House of Representatives for two terms, and a pioneer of the University of Texas System. He also served three terms in the Alabama state legislature, and two terms in the North Carolina state legislature.

Early life and education Pleasant Williams Kittrell was born on April 13, 1805, at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to parents Mary (née Norman) and Bryant Kittrell.

He graduated in 1822 at the age of 17, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. By 1847, he remarried Mary Frances Goree, The Kittrell family later settled in Huntsville, Texas, where Kittrell continued his medical practice and befriended statesman Sam Houston (1793–1863). He worked as Sam Houston's personal physician. In the Sixth Legislature, Kittrell ran for Speaker of the House but lost to Hamilton P. Bee. Kittrell authored the bill to establish the University of Texas System while serving in the legislature. He was the namesake of the town of Kittrell, Texas, which is now a ghost town.