The Biographical Dictionary of America/Austin, Stephen F.

AUSTIN, Stephen F., pioneer and "father of Texas," was born in Virginia, Nov. 3, 1793; son of Moses Austin. He was graduated with distinction at Transylvania university, Ky.; was elected to the territorial legislature of Missouri in 1813, and annually re-elected until 1819, when he removed to Arkansas, where he was appointed circuit judge. His father had received from Mexico a large grant of land near the boundary of Texas, for colonization purposes, conditional on his locating three hundred families. At his death, in 1820, Stephen, in pursuance of his father's request, proceeded immediately to colonize the tract. After many delays and much difficulty, he finally had the grant confirmed and planted on the present site of Austin a colony of some two hundred families. He was constituted governor by Mexico, and, as such, possessed dictatorial power; but he governed with justice and clemency. In 1833 the American settlers became discontented, and Austin was appointed by the colony as a commissioner to carry a petition for a separate government for Texas. The Mexican government, however, failing to consider the petition, Austin wrote to his people in October to form themselves into a separate colony, without awaiting Mexico's consent. This letter being intercepted, Austin was thrown into prison for many months. President Santa Anna, in May, 1834, called a council to hear the petition. Austin appeared before it, and by his eloquence won a promise of the repeal of the decree forbidding citizens of the United States from immigrating into Texas. The council also promised to establish a postal system and to station four thousand soldiers at Bexar to protect the frontier; but declined the prayer for separation. Austin was detained as a prisoner, but at the end of two years was allowed to return to his colony. At their first consultation, in 1835, Austin advised that any attempt by the Mexican government to disarm the colonists should be met by armed resistance. To this the colonists gladly acceded. Austin endeavored to effect a reconciliation, but all terms were haughtily rejected by the Mexicans; he determined to make no further overtures for peace, hostilities followed, the revolutionists were victorious at Gonzales, Conception and San Antonio, and Austin was made commander-in-chief of the army by acclamation, and forthwith sent to Gen. Sam Houston for aid in carrying on the revolution. Austin was sent as commissioner to Washington in November, 1835, to appeal to the United States government for aid, and made a favorable impression at the national capital. In 1836 the independence of Texas was declared, Sam Houston was elected first president of the republic, and he appointed Austin secretary of state. He died Dec. 27, 1836.