Stephen F. Austin

Stephen Fuller Austin (November 3, 1793 ? December 27, 1836), known as the "Father of Texas," led the Anglo-American colonization of the region. The city of Austin, Texas and Austin County, Texas are named in his honor.

Early years

Austin was born in the lead mining regions of southwestern Virginia to Moses and Maria Austin. In 1798, when he was five years old, his family moved to the lead mining region in present-day Missouri. His father established the town of Potosi in present-day Washington County, Missouri. When he was 10 years old, his family sent him to be educated at Bacon Academy and Yale University in Connecticut and then at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, from which he graduated in 1810. After returning from Kentucky, he was employed the family's general store in Potosi, and eventually took over most of the management of the family mining business from his father. He served as public as adjutant of a militia battalion, and from 1813 to 1819, he served in the legislature of the Missouri Territory. As a member of the territorial legislature, he was influential in obtaining a charter for the Bank of St. Louis.

Related Topics:
Lead - Mining - Southwestern - Virginia - Moses - 1798 - Missouri - Potosi - Washington County, Missouri - Bacon Academy - Yale University - Connecticut - Transylvania University - Lexington, Kentucky - 1810 - Militia - 1813 - 1819 - Legislature - Missouri Territory - Bank of St. Louis

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After the failure of the family business in Missouri, Austin sought new opportunities and moved to the Arkansas Territory in 1820, where he engaged in mercantile and land speculation activities. While he was in Arkansas, the territorial governor appointed him as circuit judge of the first judicial district of the territory. He served as circuit judge only from July to August 1820, then moved to Louisiana. He reached New Orleans in December, where he stayed with his friend Joseph H. Hawkins and made arrangement to study law.

Related Topics:
Failure - Family - Business - Arkansas Territory - 1820 - Mercantile - Arkansas - Governor - Louisiana - New Orleans - Joseph H. Hawkins - Law

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