Rafael Gonzáles

Rafael Gonzales (1789–1857) was a Tejano military leader and Governor of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas from 1824 to 1826.

Rafael Gonzales
1st Governor of Coahuila and Tejas
In office
1824–1826
Preceded byLuciano García (governor of Texas) and José Rafael Eça y Múzquiz (governor of Coahuila)
Succeeded byVíctor Blanco
Personal details
Born1789
San Antonio, Texas
Died1857 (aged 67–68)
San Antonio
ProfessionMilitary leader and Political

Early life

Gonzales was born in San Antonio de Béxar in 1789. He joined the military as a cadet to collaborate at the Nuestra Señora de Loreto presidio. In October 1810, at age 20, Gonzales was made Second Alferez, and two years later he earned the title of First Alferez.[1]

Career

On June 3, 1814, Gonzales got the degree of Second lieutenant, and joined the presidio's garrison of Monclova (Coahuila, in modern Mexico).[1] One year later, on July 14, 1815, he was promoted to first lieutenant[1][2] of the Royalist company of Presidio de Rio Grande,[2] and on May 18, 1818 he reached the rank of captain.

On July 3, 1821, Gonzales participated in the Mexican War of Independence. On December 12, 1821 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.[1][2] On August 15, 1824, he was appointed governor of Coahuila and Texas.[1][3] In that year, Gonzales granted each Shawnee family who settled in Texas a square mile of land in the south bank of Red River.[4]

He was governor of Coahuila and Texas until March 15, 1826, when he was replaced by Victor Blanco.[1][3] In 1834 Gonzales was appointed secretary of Coahuila and Texas. He died in 1857.[1]

Legacy

The town of Gonzales, Texas was named to honor his bravery.[1][5]

References
  1. "Handbook of Texas Online: Gonzales, Rafael". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  2. Weddle, Robert S. (1991). San Juan Bautista: Gateway to Spanish Texas. University of Texas Press. pp. 373–. ISBN 978-0-292-77651-7.
  3. "Pre-Republic Governors of Texas". Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  4. Jackson, Jack (2005). Indian Agent: Peter Ellis Bean in Mexican Texas. Texas A&M University Press. pp. 108–. ISBN 978-1-60344-612-9.
  5. "Come and Take It". Gonzales Texas Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
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