After the end of the War of 1812, Baylor studied law with his uncle, Judge Jesse Bledsoe and became well-known throughout the area. In 1819, R.E.B. Baylor was elected to the Kentucky State Legislature. His reputation continued to grow after moving to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In 1824, Baylor was elected to the Alabama State Legislature and became a United States Representative from that state in 1828. In 1836, Baylor led a battalion of Alabama volunteers against the Creek Indians.
One of the defining moments of R.E.B. Baylor's life came in 1839 with his conversion to Christianity. He was ordained shortly after his conversion experience, leaving his flourishing political career in Alabama behind to spread the Gospel.
At the age of forty-six, Baylor moved to Texas where he continued to devote his life to law and his new faith. In 1841, he was appointed an associate justice of Texas' Supreme Court. While judging cases around the state, he presided over the first district court held in Waco and preached perhaps the first sermon offered in Waco. He was involved in a number of religious organizations including the Texas Baptist Education Society, the Union Association, and the Texas Baptist State Convention. He had joined the Freemasons in 1825 and served as a chaplain for that society in 1843, 1846, and 1847.
Baylor was also instrumental in founding Baylor University, named for him when it was chartered in 1845. Despite his involvement as donor and law professor, Baylor was never a president of the school.
Although Baylor was never married nor had children, he was quite close to his nephew John Baylor, as John lived with him for a time and wrote to him often when he left Robert Baylor's house. John Baylor led an adventurous life of his own as a noted Indian fighter, commander of the first Confederate invasion of New Mexico in the American Civil War, Confederate congressman, and gunfighter.
After a life of faith in God and public service to three states, Robert Baylor died on 1873 December 30. He was buried at Baylor University's original campus in Independence, Texas, but his remains were transferred to the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor in 1917.
Did you know that Judge R.E. B. Baylor was never president of the University that bears his name? His Dad served on Gen George Washington's staff. He was born in Kentucky, served in the war of 1812. Earned his law degree after the war and in 1819 was elected to the Kentucky State Legislature. In 1824 he was elected the Alabama State Legislature and became a member of the US House in 1829. In 1836 he led a band of Alabama volunteers against the Creek indians. He became a Christian in 1839 and left politics to spread his faith. At age 46 he got smart and moved to Texas and devoted his life to law and faith. In 1841 he was appointed an associate justice of the Texas Supreme Court. He was instrumental in the founding of Baylor as a donor and as a law professor. He never married. He died in 1873 and was buried in Independence the site of Baylor's first campus. His remains were later moved to Mary Hardin Baylor in 1917 (which was an all girls campus at that time).
Baylor was established in 1845 while Texas was technically still under the control of Mexico. Texas had already declared it's Independence and many in the legislature wanted to name the university "San Jacinto" in honor of that battle that had just been won. However, the Texas Baptists who had requested the charter from the legislature petitioned the legislature to name the school after the judge.