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Born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri, Stephen Fuller Austin is considered the founder of Anglo-American Texas. At the age of eleven years,
he attended school in Connecticut and later graduated with distinction from
Transylvania University in Kentucky.
The elder Austin died soon after returning to Missouri from a trip to Texas,
but bequeathed his grant to Stephen with instructions to carry it to a
successful completion. Accordingly, after many delays and frustrations with
the Mexican government, Steven Austin introduced a large number of colonists
from the United States. An unassuming man with a kindly presence, he was
deeply respected by all, and achieved unparalleled influence over the often unruly settlers in Anglo Texas.
Austin is remembered in Texas history for his many efforts on behalf of
Texas before, during, and immediately after Texas' Revolution with Mexico. His contributions to Texas included: long and perilous pilgrimages to Mexico on
behalf of Texas; his unwillingness to counsel his people to take up arms
against the Mexican government as long as any hope for peace remained; his
firm and decided voice, speaking words of encouragement and hope during
the darkest days of the revolution; and his laborious travels in the United States
to obtain needed support for his struggling countrymen.
After devoting the best years of his life to the cause of Texas, Austin was
overcome by disease and on December 27, 1836 died an untimely death
at the age of forty-three years. |
