Texas Heroes

Mirabeau Lamar was born in Georgia on August 16, 1798. After his brother Lucius committed suicide in 1834, Lamar traveled around & ended up in Texas in 1835. He joined Sam Houston's army in 1836 & distinguished himself with bravery at the battle of San Jacinto. This led to an appointment as Secretary of War in the Texas Government and in 1836 he was elected as Vice-President of the Republic of Texas under President Sam Houston though the two disagreed on virtually everything & would become bitter rivals. He was the unanimous choice to replace Houston as President in 1838. Considered the Father of Texas Education, Lamar convinced the legislature to set aside land for each county for servicing schools. Additional land was set aside for the establishment of two universities, later Texas A&M University & the University of Texas.

Noted soldier & spy, Erastus "Deaf" Smith proved indispensable from the moment he joined the revolution. He fought in the Battle of Concepcion & discovered the Mexican mule train responsible for the Grass Fight. He was wounded during the Seige of Bexar while guiding Col. Francis Johnson's men into town. He served as messanger to William Travis during the Texan stand at the Alamo. It was Smith who discovered Susanna Dickinson & her infant daughter Angelina, the only two survivors of the Alamo who brought word of its fall. Smith was originally neutral to the war until the Seige of Bexar. Smith, who was returning home to Bexar from a hunting trip was denied entry to the city by the Mexicans who had increased security around the town. Smith then joined the army & wrote Austin: "I told you yesterday that I would not take sides in this war but, Sir, I now tender you my services as the Mexicans have acted rascally with me."

Upon hearing of Travis' plight at the Alamo, David Burnet rallied support from the Convention of 1836. This leadership garnerred him an election to the position of President of the ad interim government of Texas during the Revolution. Under his direction, Houston would halt his retreat during the Runaway Scrape to face Santa Anna. He became Texas' second Vice President under President Lamar & when Texas was annexed to the United States he served as Texas' first Secretary of State.

Although a native Mexican, Seguin was critical of Santa Anna's rule & gladly joined the Texas Revolution. He was commissioned a captain by Stephen Austin in October 1835 & made significant contributions at the Battle of Concepcion & the Seige of Bexar. He led 25 Tejanos at the Battle of the Alamo before delivering Travis' "Victory or Death" letter through enemy lines appealing to the Texas army for reinforcements. He returned to fight, but the Alamo had already fallen. It was Seguin who arranged for the dead Alamo defenders to be buried with military honors. He commanded the 9th Company, 2nd Regiment Texas Volunteers at the Battle of San Jacinto. After the revolution he was elected to the Texas Senate from 1834-1840 & became Mayor of San Antonio in 1841.

An early supporter of Santa Anna, Lorenzo de Zavala would later denounce the Mexican president once he assumed dictatorial powers & rescinded the Constitution of 1824. He traveled to New York in 1835 & then to Texas where he became friends with Stephen F. Austin. He became involved in Texas politics & would ultimately be a supporter of the independence movement. He represented Harrisburg at both the Consultation & the Convention of 1836 & was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. He assisted in the drafting of the Constitution of the Republic of Texas & was elected ad interim Vice President under David Burnet. He contracted pneumonia when his boat capsized in Buffalo Bayou & died on November 15, 1836. A monument was erected over his grave in Channelview, TX.