Famous People - Revolution
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Lorenzo de Zavala: (October 3, 1788 – November 15, 1836)
o Group: Mexican
o Job: Politician
o Famous for: Helped write the Texas Declaration of Independence, helped design the interim government at
Washington-on-the Brazos, was elected Vice President of the new republic.
James Fannin: (January 1, 1804 – March 27, 1836)
o Group: Texan
o Job: Colonel
o Famous for: Led the Texans at Coleto Creek and surrendered to Urrea, he was executed at Goliad by order of
Santa Anna
James Bowie (April 10, 1796 – March 6, 1836)
o Group: Texan
o Job: Colonel
o Famous for: His big knife which he made famous at the Sandbar Fight, commanded troops at the Alamo with
William B. Travis, was killed in the Battle of the Alamo
Sam Houston (March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863)
o Group: Texan
o Job: General
o Famous for: Commander-in-Chief of the Texan Army during the Texas Revolution, led forces at the Battle of
San Jacinto, president of Texas twice
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (February 21, 1794 – June 21, 1876)
o Group: Mexican
o Job: President/Dictator
o Famous for: Commander-in-Chief of the Mexican Army during the Texas Revolution, led forces at the Battle of
the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto
Juan Seguin (October 27, 1806 – August 27, 1890)
o Group: Mexican who fought for the Texans
o Job: Colonel and later politician
o Famous for: Served with Travis at the Alamo but survived because he was sent out as a messenger to warn
Sam Houston about the events at the Alamo, continued to serve under Sam Houston at the Battle of San
Jacinto.
William B. Travis (August 1, 1809 – March 6, 1836)
o Group: Texan
o Job: Lieutenant Colonel
o Famous for: Commanded troops at the Alamo with James Bowie, sent a letter to the “People of the World”
asking for backup, was killed in the Battle of the Alamo
Martín Perfecto de Cos (1800 - 1854)
o Group: Mexican
o Job: General
o Famous for: Santa Anna’s brother-in-law, told other general to take the cannon from Gonzales, led a group at
the Alamo, was captured at the Battle of San Jacinto
Famous People – Republic
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Mary Maverick (March 16, 1818 – February 24, 1898)
o Group: Texan, settler
o Job: Diarist, pioneer
o Famous for: Her and husband Samuel established a large ranch near the San Antonio area. She recorded her
daily life in diaries and journals between the days of the Republic of Texas and the Civil War, worked hard
making sure the history of Texas was preserved.
William Goyens (1794 - 1856)
o Group: Texan, African American
o Job: blacksmith, landowner
o Famous for: A free African-American who was a well to do businessman. He was a blacksmith, wagon
manufacturer, freight hauler, mill owner, landowner and farmer in Nacogdoches. He was of mixed race and
spoke Spanish and several native Texan languages
Chief Bowles (1756 – July 16, 1839)
o Group: Native American
o Job: Chief of the Cherokee tribe
o Famous for: Leader of a group of Cherokees that arrived in Texas in 1820, signed a treaty with Sam Houston
during the Texas Revolution. During the Lamar administration (1839), Chief Bowles was ordered to lead the
Cherokees out of Texas. Bowles refused. Lamar ordered the militia to drive them out by force. Bowles was
killed and the Cherokees were forced to present-day Oklahoma.
Jose Antonio Navarro (February 27, 1795 – January 13, 1871)
o Group: Mexican/Tejano
o Job: Politician
o Famous for: Served as Bexar’s (San Antonio) representative in the Texas Congress. He tried to protect Tejano
land claims and other rights. He was a voice of Tejanos. Supporter of Mirabeau B. Lamar and a critic of Sam
Houston. Chosen as one of President Lamar's commissioners to accompany the Texan Santa Fe expedition.
Delegate to the Convention of 1845 which decided annexation and he helped write the state constitution.
Served in the Texas Senate.
Edwin W. Moore (July 15, 1810 – October 5, 1865)
o Group: Texan
o Job: Commodore (leader) of the Texas Navy
o Famous for: 28 years old fluent in both English and Spanish, already had a dozen years of naval experience.
Aided Yucatan rebels by blockading the Mexican coast. Dishonorably discharge by Houston and courtmartialed for supporting the Yucatan rebels.
Presidency
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Sam Houston’s 1st Term (1836 – 1838)
o Running against: Henry Smith, Stephen F. Austin
o Budget: Inherited a debt of $1 million, created promissory notes (paper money that was basically an “I owe
you”)
 Texas Rangers - When Sam Houston became President, he dismissed the army because of its cost and
bad leadership. He replaced them by reinstating the Texas Rangers. He used them to fight the attacks
by the Americans Indians and the Mexican soldiers that crossed the border.
o Native Americans: He signed a treaty with Chief Bowles during the Texas Revolution
o Major events: Forming the government, dealing with the issues of debt and the army, conflict with Native
Americans and Mexico, selecting a capital
Mirabeau B. Lamar’s presidency (1838 – 1841)
o Running against: James Collingsworth and Peter Grayson
o Budget: Debt got worse, created “redbacks” (red dollar bills) that were mostly worthless
o Native Americans: negative relationship, forced the Native Americans to relocate
o Major events: Council House fight, Santa Fe expedition, created public education system in Texas, moved the
capital the Austin
Sam Houston’s 2nd term (1841 – 1844)
o According to the Constitution, a person couldn’t be elected two times in a row. Most Texans were unhappy
with the conflict during Lamar’s administration and re- elected Houston. His main focus was to return peace,
decrease the public debt, and prepare Texas for statehood
o Running against: David G. Burnet
o Budget: Cut back spending and spent less than $600,000 during this term, tried to sell the Navy
o Native Americans: Still positive, but most Native Americans had left Texas
o Major events: Texas Rangers/Mier Expedition (1842), Archives War, Regulator-Moderator War, Tried to get
annexed by (or added to) the U.S.
Anson Jones’s presidency (1844 – 1845)
o Jones supported Houston’s policies. He maintained peace with the Native Americans, tried to limit spending,
and turned over Texas to the United States
o Running against: Edward Burleson
o Budget: Was only in office 6 months, tried not to change Houston’s policy
o Native Americans: Was only in office 6 months, tried not to change Houston’s policy
o Major events: Texas was annexed (added to) the U.S.
Battles
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Battle of Gonzales ( October 2, 1835)
o Texans army leader : J.H. Moore
o Mexican army leader: Lieutenant Francisco Castaneda
o Winner: Texans
o Loser: Mexican army left Gonzales
o First battle of the Texas Revolution. Citizens of Gonzales would not give up a cannon that was given to them
by the Mexican government to protect them from Indians. A militia led by JH Moore flew a flag over it that
said “Come and Take It”. Lieutenant Francisco Castaneda led 100 men to Gonzales to take the cannon. The
militia fired the cannon on October 2 at the Mexican soldiers, a battle began, and so did the Texas Revolution.
Fall of the Alamo (February 23, 1836 – March 6, 1836)
o Texans army leader : James Bowie and William B. Travis
o Mexican army leader: Santa Anna
o Winner: Mexicans
o Loser: Texan soldiers were all killed, women, children and slaves were let go
o Sam Houston ordered the Alamo to be destroyed. James Bowie and James Neill decided that the Alamo was
too important. James Bowie and William Travis began to recruit supporters. Santa Anna arrived in San
Antonio. The Texans moved into the Alamo and for 13 days fought the Mexicans. The fall of the Alamo
occurred in the morning of March 6, 1836. 1800 Mexican troops fought against approximately 189 Texans. All
Texans were killed and approximately 600 Mexican soldiers were killed. “Remember the Alamo” comes from
this.
Battle of Coleto Creek (March 19-20, 1836)
o Texans army leader : James Fannin
o Mexican army leader: Jose de Urrea
o Winner: Mexicans
o Loser: Texans were taken prisoner and taken to Goliad
o Colonel James Fannin surrendered his 300 men at the Battle of Coleto because he was pinned on the open
prairie. They fought the Mexicans off but Fannin decided to surrender to prevent more deaths.
Surrender at Goliad (March 27, 1836)
o Texans army leader : James Fannin
o Mexican army leader: Jose de Urrea
o Winner: Mexicans
o Loser: Texans were taken prisoner at the Battle of Coleto and taken to Goliad
o Fannin had surrendered to stop his soldiers from getting killed. He thought they were going to be taken to
prison. They were marched to Goliad and Urrea told them they were not going to be killed but Santa Anna
ordered the captives to all be shot on March 21. March 27, 1836 the men are marched outside the city and the
Mexican army opens fire, killing almost everyone. A few are able to escape.
Battle of San Jacinto (April 21, 1836)
o Texans army leader : Sam Houston
o Mexican army leader: Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
o Winner: Texans
o Loser: Mexican army and Santa Anna are taken prisoner
o Shortest battle in history. Sam Houston led the Texas forces of 800 men. Santa Anna led the Mexican forces of
1300 men. Houston burned every way out of San Jacinto and attacked the Mexican Army about 3:00in the
afternoon. The battle lasted for 18 minutes. Santa Anna was captured the next day and surrendered to Sam
Houston