Stephen f. austin biography timeline

He granted land to immigrants based on acres 2. Slavery was a very important issue to Austin, one he called "of great interest" to him. In practice, however, he agreed with the social, economic, and political justifications for it and worked hard to defend and expand it. He grew particularly concerned following Nat Turner's rebellion instating:.

The idea of seeing such a country as this overrun by a slave population almost makes me weep. It is in vain to tell a North American that the white population will be destroyed some fifty or eighty years hence by the negroes, and that his daughters will be violated and Butchered by them. While Austin thought it would be advantageous someday for Texas to phase out of slavery, up until the Texas Revolution, he worked to ensure that his colony's immigrants could bypass the Mexican government's resistance to it.

Inwhen a state committee proposed abolishing slavery outright, 25 percent of the people in Austin's colony were enslaved. Austin went before the legislature and pleaded that, at the least, his original families should be allowed to continue enslaving people. In Marchthe legislature signed Article 13 into law. Despite the law complying with some of his requests, Austin called it "unconstitutional".

He contested the law as it freed the children of enslaved people at birth, established a six-month grace period before fully emancipating all enslaved people in the state, and included provisions to improve the conditions of enslaved people and transitioning freedmen. InAustin petitioned the legislature to guarantee that slaveowners immigrating to Texas could legally "free" their slaves before immigrating and contract them into a lifetime term of indentured servitude, thereby avoiding recognizing them as slaves.

InJohn Durst, a prominent landowner and politician, wrote about the president's emancipation of enslaved people, "We are ruined forever should this measure be adopted".

Stephen f. austin biography timeline: Austin, Stephen Fuller (–). Stephen

Austin replied. InAustin wrote that he would oppose Texas joining the United States without guarantees that he should "insist on the perpetual exclusion of slavery from this state [Texas]". Circumstances and unavoidable necessity compel it. It is the wish of the people there, and it is my duty to do all I can, prudently, in favor of it. I will do so.

In MayAustin's colonists learned that Mexico's tolerance for the evasions of enslavers was drawing to a close with its proposal of new abolition legislation. Austin later gained U. Government support for his revolution when he wrote to Senator Lewis F. Linn and pleaded that Santa Anna planned to "exterminate" all of the colonists and fill Texas "with Indians and negroes [freed slaves]".

Immigration controls and the introduction of tariff laws had done much to dissatisfy the colonists, peaking in the Anahuac Disturbances. Following the success of Santa Anna, the colonists sought a compensatory reward, proclaimed at the Convention of : resumption of immigration, tariff exemption, separation from Coahuila, and a new state government for Texas.

Austin did not support these demands; he considered them ill-timed and tried to moderate them. Austin did gain certain significant reforms: the immigration ban was lifted, but a separate state government was not authorized. Statehood in Mexico required a population of 80, and Texas had only 30, Believing that he was pushing for Texas independence and suspecting that he was trying to incite insurrection, the Mexican government arrested Austin in January in Saltillo.

He was taken to Mexico City and imprisoned. No charges were filed against him as no court would accept jurisdiction.

Stephen f. austin biography timeline: Stephen Austin was the

He was moved from prison to prison. He was released under bond in December and required to stay in the Federal District. He was entirely freed under the general amnesty in July and, in Augustleft Mexico to return to Texas via New Orleans. In his absence, several events propelled the colonists toward confrontation with Santa Anna's centralist government.

After learning of the Disturbances at Anahuac and Velasco in the summer ofan enraged Santa Anna made rapid preparations for the Mexican army to sweep Anglo settlers from Texas. War began in October at Gonzales. The Republic of Texascreated by a new constitution on March 2,won independence following a string of defeats with the dramatic turnabout victory at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21,and the capture of Santa Anna the following morning.

He was then imprisoned. Wharton were appointed commissioners to the U. Austin returned to Texas to rest at Peach Point in August. On August 4, he announced his candidacy for president of Texas. Austin felt confident he could win the election until two weeks before the election, when on August 20, Houston entered the race. Austin wrote, "Many of the old settlers who are too blind to see or understand their interest will vote for him.

Austin received votes to Sam Houston's 5, and Henry Smith 's votes. Houston appointed Austin as the first secretary of state of the new republic; however, Austin only served approximately two months before his death. In DecemberAustin was in the new capital of Columbia now known as West Columbiawhere he caught a severe cold; his condition worsened.

Doctors were called in but could not help him. Austin died of pneumonia at noon on December 27, He was at the home of George B. McKinstry, near what is now West Columbia, Texas. He was Austin's last words were, "The independence of Texas is recognized! Don't you see it in the papers? Austin never married, nor did he have any children.

He bequeathed all his land, titles, and possessions to his married sister, Emily Austin Perry. While Stephen F. Austin and his sister Emily have each been the subject of a biography, they are descended from several generations of noteworthy people, including: Moses Austin father—biography published by Trinity University Press[ 63 ] Abia Brown grandfatherJoseph Sharp great-grandfatherIsaac Sharp great, great-grandfatherAnthony Sharp great, great, great-grandfather—biography published by Stanford University Press.

Richard Austina native of TitchfieldHampshire was his paternal emigrant ancestor. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read View source View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. American empresario — For other people, see Stephen Austin disambiguation. A posthumous portrait from Main article: Texas Revolution.

Further information: Republic of Texas. Austin: Empresario of Texas.

Stephen f. austin biography timeline: Stephen F. Austin (born November 3,

Yale University Press. ISBN Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 21, January 11, He was their second child, and their first living child. He was born in a mining region of Virginia, today modern-day Austinville. Moved to Missouri The family moved to Missouri when Austin was four years old, to a mining community in the Southeastern region, some 40 miles west of the Mississippi River.

Graduated Transylvania University When he was around 10 years old, his family sent him back East to be educated, first at a boarding school and later at university. He initially practiced law after his graduation. Served in Missouri Legislature In the years after his graduation, he served on the Missouri legislature. In this role, he helped to secure a charter for the Bank of St.

Louis in the Missouri Territory. Panic of The Panic of was a financial crisis in the United States. In the Panic ofAustin lost his wealth, and was left with significantly less money than before. Arkansas Elections InAustin moved south to the Arkansas territory, buying land in the region that is now Little Rock. He ran for the territorial legislature, and entered a court battle over the land he had purchased when Little Rock was made the capitol.

But Cantrell notes that "private matters could never come first" for Austin; he quotes an acquaintance of Austin who claimed that Austin was a "kind of slave" and that Texas was his master. Public outcries came for Texas to push for independent statehood, and Austin heard the call. Austin served as president of the first convention to discuss the possibility of independence.

More conventions followed, and soon the settlers had drafted a proposal for the Mexican government. These conventions were illegal in Mexico, and Austin was arrested and jailed for a year for his part in the affair. While Austin was in jail, immigrants flooded into Texas. Cantrell estimates that the population of Texas reached nearly thirty thousand.

Upon Austin's return to the colony, Austin's nephew reported that Austin was greeted "as one risen from the dead," according to Cantrell. Shortly after arriving home, Austin assessed the situation and declared that "war is our only resource" on September 19, The Texans went to war with Mexico to win their independence. Austin served for a short time commanding troops, but his weak body was prone to illness and he soon proved to be more of a diplomat than a soldier.

Sam Houston — took over command of the army, and Austin became a commissioner to the United States. He traveled to the United States to win money for the Texas cause. Austin returned to Texas and quickly prepared to run for president of the new republic. He appeared to be the most qualified of the candidates, but the victorious general Houston entered the race late and won by a landslide.

Houston did appoint Austin secretary of state, but Austin's health soon failed him and he died on December 27, His last words were: "The independence of Texas is recognized! Don't you see it in the papers? Houston publicized the news of Austin's passing as "the Father of Texas is no more! Cantrell, Gregg. Austin: Empresario of Texas. Cite this article Pick a style below, and stephen f.

austin biography timeline the text for your bibliography. January 8, Retrieved January 08, from Encyclopedia. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.

History Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps Austin, Stephen F. Austin, Stephen F. Learn more about citation styles Citation styles Encyclopedia. More From encyclopedia. About this article Austin, Stephen F. Updated About encyclopedia. Austin, Sarah — Austin, Richard. Austin, Ray — Raymond Austin. Austin, Moses — Austin, Moses. Austin, Mary Hunter — Austin, Mary Hunter.

Austin, Margaret —. Austin, M ichel M ervyn. Austin, Lynn N. Austin, Lovie — Austin, Lovie born Cora Calhoun. Austin, Louis Winslow. Austin, Larry Don. Austin, Junius C. Austin, John Turnell. Austin, John Langshaw — Austin, John — Austin, Joe Alan