{{Short description|American politician (1847–1924)}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Rudolph Kleberg | image = RudolphKleberg.jpg | alt = | caption = Rudolph Kleberg, U.S. Representative from Texas | state = Texas | district = 11th | term_start = April 7, 1896 | term_end = March 3, 1903 | predecessor = William H. Crain | successor = Robert Lee Henry | birth_date = {{birth date|1847|6|26}} | birth_place = Cat Spring, Texas, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1924|12|28|1847|6|26}} | death_place = Austin, Texas, U.S. | resting_place = Oakwood Cemetery | party = Democratic }} '''Rudolph Kleberg''' (June 26, 1847 – December 28, 1924) was a U.S. representative from Texas, great uncle of Robert C. Eckhardt and uncle of Richard M. Kleberg, Sr.
==Early life and education== Born in Cat Spring, Texas, Kleberg was instructed by private tutors and graduated from Concrete College, De Witt County, in 1868. He enlisted in Tom Green's brigade of Cavalry in the Confederate States Army in the spring of 1864 and served until the close of the Civil War.
After the war, Kleberg studied law in San Antonio. He was admitted to the bar in 1872.
==Career== Kleberg commenced practice in Cuero, Texas. The next year, he founded the ''Cuero Star'' in 1873. After a few years of practice, Kleberg was appointed as prosecuting attorney of De Witt County 1876-1890.
Entering electoral politics, he served as a member of the State senate 1882-1886. In 1885, he was appointed as United States attorney for the western district of Texas.
Kleberg was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William H. Crain. He was reelected to the Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth, and Fifty-seventh Congresses and served from April 7, 1896, to March 3, 1903.
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1902. Resuming the practice of law, he moved with his family to Austin, Texas, in 1905. There he was appointed as the official reporter for the court of criminal appeals February 24, 1905.
He served until his death in Austin on December 28, 1924.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47074198/south-texas-pioneer-dies-at-home-here/ |title=South Texas Pioneer Dies at Home Here |newspaper=Austin American |page=1 |date=1924-12-29 |access-date=2020-03-21 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He was interred in Oakwood Cemetery.
==Sources== {{reflist}} {{CongBio|K000258}}
==External links== * {{Find a Grave}}
{{Bioguide}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-hs}} {{US House succession box | state=Texas | district=11 | before=William H. Crain | after=Robert Lee Henry | years=April 7, 1896 – March 3, 1903 }} {{s-end}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kleberg, Rudolph}} Category:1847 births Category:1924 deaths Rudolph Category:Confederate States Army personnel Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Texas Category:United States attorneys for the Western District of Texas Category:People from Austin County, Texas Category:People from Cuero, Texas Category:Politicians from Austin, Texas Category:19th-century United States representatives