Austin, Stephen Fuller Público Deposited
Born in With County, Virginia. Graduate of Transylvania (Lexington, KY) University in 1810. He never married. Served in Missouri Territorial Legislature 1814 to 1820. Appointed judge in Arkansas in 1820.
In 1822 he founded the colony of San Felipo de Austin in what would become Texas. It was the first Anglo-American settlement in Mexican territory. Served as governor of the colony until 1828. In 1833 he petitioned Mexico to have Texas made a Mexican state. He was imprisoned as a revolutionary until 1835. Served as commander-in-chief of the Texas Revolutionary Army in 1835. He ran for the presidency of the Republic of Texas in September 1836, but was defeated by Houston. Served as Secretary of State in the new government from October 1836 until his death in December. The captol city of Texas is named for him.
A small figure of Austin appears on the reverse of the Texas Centennial commemorative half dollar. Design was by Pompeo Coppini.
bio: ApCAB; DAB; Drake; EAB; NCAB 6; TCBDA; WAB; WWAmPol; WWWA-H
- 1793-11-03
- Wythe County, Virginia
- 1836-12-27