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.

Empresario Austin

Austin's plan for a colony was thrown into turmoil by the independence of Mexico from Spain in 1821. Governor Martínez informed Austin that the junta instituyente, the new rump congress of the government of Agustín de Iturbide, refused to recognize the land grant authorized by Spain, based on a new policy of using a general immigration law to regulate new settlement in Mexico. Austin traveled to Mexico City and managed to persuade the junta instituyente to authorize the grant to his father, as well as the Law signed by the Spanish Emperor on January 3, 1823. The old Imperial Law offered heads of families a league and a labor of land, 4,605 acres (19 km²), and other inducements. It also provided for the employment of agents, called empresarios, to promote immigration. As empresario, Austin himself was to receive 67,000 acres (270 km²) of land for each 200 families he introduced. According to the law, immigrants were not required to pay fees to the government. This fact soon led some of the immigrants to deny Austin's right to charge them for services at the rate of 12½ cents an acre ($31/km²).

Related Topics:
Independence of Mexico from Spain - Rump congress - Agustín de Iturbide - Land grant - Mexico City - January 3 - 1823 - Empresario - Immigration

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When Iturbide abdicated in March 1823, the law was annulled once again. In April 1823, Austin induced the congress to grant him a contract to bring 300 families into Texas. In 1824 the congress passed a new immigration law that allowed the individual states of Mexico to administer public lands and open them to settlement under certain conditions. In March 1825 the legislature of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas passed a law that was similar to the one authorized by Iturbide. The law continued the system of empresarios, as well as granting each married man a league of land, 4,428 acres (18 km²), with the stipulating that he must pay the state thirty dollars within six years.

Related Topics:
1824 - 1825 - Coahuila y Tejas

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By late 1825, Austin had brought the first 300 families, now known in Texas history as the Old Three Hundred, to the grant. Austin had obtained further contracts to settle an additional 900 families between 1825 and 1829. He had effective civil and military authority over the settlers, but he was quick to introduce a semblance of American law - the Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas was agreed on in November 1827. Despite his hopes Austin was making little money from his endeavors; the colonists were unwilling to pay for his services as empresario and most of the money gained was spent on the processes of government and other public services.

Related Topics:
Texas history - Old Three Hundred - 1829 - 1827

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He was active to promote trade and to secure the good favor of the Mexican authorities, aiding them in the suppression of the Fredonian Rebellion of Haden Edwards. However, with the colonists numbering over 11,000 by 1832 they were becoming less conducive to Austin's cautious leadership, and the Mexican government was also becoming less cooperative - concerned with the growth of the colony and the efforts of the U.S. government to buy the state from them. The Mexican government had attempted to stop further U.S. immigration as early as April 1830, but again the skills of Austin had gained an exemption for his colonies.

Related Topics:
Fredonian Rebellion - Haden Edwards - 1832 - 1830

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The application of the immigration control and the introduction of tariff laws had done much to dissatisfy the colonists, peaking in the Anahuac disturbances. Austin then felt compelled to involve himself in Mexican politics, supporting the upstart Antonio López de Santa Anna. Following the success of Santa Anna the colonists sought a compensatory reward, proclaimed at the Convention of 1832 - resumption of immigration, tariff exemption, separation from Coahuila, and a new state government for Texas. Austin was not in favor of these demands, he considered them ill-timed and tried his hardest to moderate them. When they were repeated and extended at the Convention of 1833, Austin traveled to Mexico City and he did gain certain important reforms, but not a state government. Austin was arrested in January 1834 and charged with insurrection; he was not tried and was finally released, returning to Texas in August 1835. In his absence the colonists had not softened their stance; war began in October at Gonzales; the Republic of Texas became independent on 2 March 1836.

Related Topics:
Tariff - Anahuac disturbances - Antonio López de Santa Anna - Convention of 1832 - Convention of 1833 - Mexico City - 1834 - 1835 - Gonzales - Republic of Texas - 2 March - 1836

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