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(November 3, 1793 – December 27, 1836)

Youth

     Born in what is now known as Austinville, Virginia, Stephen Fuller Austin was mostly raised in Southeastern Missouri. He attended Colchester Academy in Connecticut, and later attended Transylvania University in Kentucky. He then returned home to Missouri, where he served in the state legislature at the young age of 21 in 1814. He was re-elected every year to the same position until 1820. He also became the director of the Bank of St. Louis and an officer in the state militia. 

       After spending a few years back in Missouri, Austin decided to move to Arkansas when the Panic of 1819 bankrupted family enterprises. While in Arkansas his father, Moses Austin, was granted a permit to colonize 300 families in Spanish Texas. Soon after, Moses died, leaving his son the duty of carrying out the colonization. Austin quickly colonized the 300 families along with 750 additional families. This began what became his most famous act; colonizing Spanish Texas with hundreds of families and planting the seeds of the blossoming Lone Star State.

Texas Revolution

The end of the Texas Revolution.

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/TX-Treasure2.html

     During the Texas Revolution, Austin briefly led a group of Texans in a revolt against the Mexican dictator Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna after his brief imprisonment in Mexico City. He gathered as much aid as he could for the Texan cause, including going to the US to ask for support.

     Surprisingly, Austin was a supporter of Santa Anna at first. He frequently visited Mexico to deal with foreign relations regarding Texas. Texas colonists supported his uprise, and asked for compensation when he gained a position of power. While Austin did not agree with all of the colonists demands, which included resumption of immigration, tariff exemption, separation from Coahuila, and a new state government for Texas, he went to Mexico to discuss them with Santa Anna. The immigration ban was lifted, but Texas was not granted a separate state government because of its low population.

 In his absence, the Texas colonists became edgy and a number of events led to confrontation with Santa Anna. Soon, the Texas Revolution was sparked in October 1835 at Gonzales. After a series of defeats, the Republic of Texas won its independence at the Battle of Jacinto on April 21, 1936.

     Austin ran for president of the Republic, but unfortunately lost the landslide election to Sam Houston. Unfortunately, while Austin had a huge impact on the Republic's primary growth, Houston had everyone enraptured by his defeat of Santa Anna at that very moment. Houston's success was fresh on everyone's mind, and he clearly won people's votes because of it. Austin was granted the position of Secretary of State, but he unfortunately died soon after.

Death

     At only forty-three years old, Austin succumbed to disease on December 27, 1836. He was laid to rest in his family's cemetary at Peach Point, located at his sister's plantation. Austin's tomb is currently open to the public by appointment through the Brazoria County Historical Museum.

"Texas recognized.  Archer told me so, did you see it in the papers?"

-Stephen Austin's last words

Fun Facts