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Republic of Texas Government

[Texas
                          Privateer flag 1835-1845]
29 Nov 1835 - 10 Dec 1836
Privateer Flag

[National
                        Standard of Republic of Texas 1836-1839]
10 Dec 1836 - 25 Jan 1839
(War Flag 25 Jan 1839 - 29 Dec 1845)
  

[Texas
                          National Flag for the Naval Service 1836-1839
                          (U.S.)]
9 Apr 1836 - 25 Jan 1839
Naval Ensign
[Flag of Texas from 1839 (U.S.)]
Adopted 25 Jan 1839
Map of Texas Republic Hear National Anthem
(None adopted; unofficial
"The Hymn of the Alamo")

Texas Declaration of
Independence

(2 Mar 1836)
Constitution
(5 Sep 1836)
Capital: Washington-on-the-Brazos (1 Mar-15 Apr 1836, Sep 1842 - Aug 1845);
San Felipe de Austin
 (7 Nov 1835 - 1 Mar 1836);
Harrisburg (Mar-15 Apr 1836); Galveston (26 Apr-May 1836); Velasco (May - 3 Oct 1836) ;
Columbia (3 Oct 1836 -19 Apr 1837); Austin (17 Oct 1839 - 13 Mar 1842, from Aug 1845); Houston (19 Apr 1837-17 Oct 1839, 13 Mar-Sep 1842)
Currency: Feb 1836-1846
Texas Dollar
(TXSD);
 1835-36 Mexican Peso (MXP)
National Holiday
2 Mar (1836)

Texas Independence Day
Population: 212,592 (1850)
604,215 (1860);
38,470 (1836);

24,700 (1834)
Exports: $615,000 (1843/44) Imports: $687,000 (1843/44) Ethnic groups: Anglo-Texan 57%, emigrant Indian 15%, local Indian 12%, black 9%, Tejanos 7% (1836 est.)
Military Force: 500 (1840) Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional beliefs
International Organizations/Treaties: None
Texas Index
Chronology

1682                       Spanish colony (Coahuila), part of Nueva España
                             (New Spain [see 
Mexico]).
23 Jan 1691                Province of Coahuila and Tejas
1693 - 1716                Tejas unoccupied but included in Coahuila.
1720                       Coahuila and Tejas given separate governments,
                             and from 1723 governors.

17 Apr 1813 - 18 Aug 1813  Independence from Spain as part of Mexico
                             declared.
22 Feb 1819                Adams­-Onís Treaty defines the border of Spanish
                             Tejas and U.S. Louisiana (effective 22 Feb
                             1821).
22 Jun 1819 - 28 Oct 1819  "Republic of Texas" declared by James Long in
                             revolt at Nacogdoches.
28 Sep 1821
                Province of Mexico.
17 Nov 1821                Province of Tejas
 
7 May 1824                Coahuila y Tejas State (confirmed 14 Oct 1824).
                            
(see under U.S. States S-U).
 
2 Oct 1835 – 21 Apr 1836  Texas revolution. 
 7 Nov 1835                Recognition of authority of the federal
                             government of Mexico is withdrawn in accordance
                             with a declaration passed by a Convention held
                             at San Felipe de Austin.
15 Nov 1835                Texas ruled by Provisional Government.
 2 Mar 1836                Declaration of independence is passed by the
                             Convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos
                             (Republic of Texas).
 
6 Mar 1836                The Alamo in San Antonio falls to Mexican forces.
21 Apr 1836                Battle of San Jacinto, Texans defeat Mexican
                             forces.
30 Dec 1836                Texas Department (Departamento de Texas) declared
                             by Mexico (no effect).

29 Dec 1845                U.S. Act for the Admission of Texas as a
                             state becomes effective.

16 Feb 1846               
State of Texas (see U.S. States S-U).

State
War (& Marine)
Treasury
Navy
Justice
Post Office
Congress
Supreme Court
 


Executives

Governor
12 Nov 1835 -  1 Mar 1836  Henry Smith                         (b. 1788 - d. 1851)
                             (suspended from 11 Jan 1836, continues in opposition)
Governor of the Provisional Government
11 Jan 1836 -  1 Mar 1836  James W. Robinson (acting)          (b. 1790 - d. 1857)
President of the Convention
 2 Mar 1836 - 17 Mar 1836  Richard Ellis                       (b. 1781 - d. 1846)
Presidents of the Republic of Texas
17 Mar 1836 - 22 Oct 1836  David Gouverneur Burnet             (b. 1788 - d. 1870)
22 Oct 1836 - 10 Dec 1838  Samuel "Sam" Houston (1st time)     (b. 1793 - d. 1863)
10 Dec 1838 - 13 Dec 1841  Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar           (b. 1798 - d. 1859)
13 Dec 1841 -  9 Dec 1844  Samuel "Sam" Houston (2nd time)     (s.a.)
 9 Dec 1844 - 19 Feb 1846  Anson Jones                         (b. 1798 - d. 1858)

Vice Presidents

Lieutenant governor
14 Nov 1835 - 11 Jan 1836  James W. Robinson                   (s.a.)
Vice Presidents
16 Mar 1836 - 22 Oct 1836  Manuel Lorenzo Justiniano de        (b. 1789 - d. 1836)
                             Zavala y Saenz (acting) 
22 Oct 1836 - 10 Dec 1838  Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar           (s.a.)
10 Dec 1838 - 13 Dec 1841  David Gouverneur Burnet             (s.a.)
13 Dec 1841 -  9 Dec 1844  Edward Burleson                     (b. 1798 - d. 1851)
 9 Dec 1844 -  3 Jul 1845  Kenneth Lewis Anderson              (b. 1805 - d. 1845)


Department of State

Secretaries of State
14 Nov 1835 - 17 Mar 1836  Charles Bellinger Stewart           (b. 1806 - d. 1885)
17 Mar 1836 -  1 Apr 1836  Samuel Price Carson                 (b. 1798 - d. 1838)
 
2 Apr 1836 - 29 Apr 1836  Bailey Hardeman (acting)            (b. 1795 - d. 1836)
29 Apr 1836 - 23 May 1836  James Collinsworth (acting)         (b. 1806 - d. 1838)
23 May 1836 - 22 Oct 1836  William Houston Jack                (b. 1806 - d. 1844)
22 Oct 1836 - 27 Dec 1836  Stephen Fuller Austin               (b. 1793 - d. 1836)
29 Dec 1836 - 13 Jun 1837  James Pinckney Henderson            (b. 1808 - d. 1858)
13 Jun 1837 - 10 Dec 1838  Robert Anderson Irion               (b. 1802 - d. 1861)
16 Dec 1838 -  6 Feb 1839  Barnard Elliott Bee                 (b. 1787 - d. 1853)
 6 Feb 1839 - 31 May 1839  James Webb (1st time)               (b. 1792 - d. 1856)
31 May 1839 - 28 Jun 1839  David Gouverneur Burnet (1st time)  (s.a.)
                             (acting)
28 Jun 1839 - 23 Jul 1839  James Webb (2nd time)               (s.a.)
23 Jul 1839 -  6 Aug 1839  Nathaniel C. Amory (acting)         (b. 1809 - d. 1864)
 6 Aug 1839 - 31 Jan 1840  David Gouverneur Burnet (2nd time)  (s.a.)
                             (acting)
31 Jan 1840 - 22 Jan 1841  Abner Smith Lipscomb                (b. 1789 - d. 1856)
23 Jan 1841 -  8 Feb 1841  Joseph Waples (1st time) (acting)   (b. 1798 - d. 1846)
 8 Feb 1841 - 30 Apr 1841  James Shannon Mayfield              (b. 1808 - d. 1852)
30 Apr 1841 - 25 May 1841  Joseph Waples (2nd time)            (s.a.)
25 May 1841 - Dec 1841     Samuel Alexander Roberts            (b. 1809 - d. 1872)
                             (acting to 7 Sep 1841) 
13 Dec 1841                Edward Lawrence Stickney (acting)   (b. 1816 - d. 1855)
13 Dec 1841 -  9 Dec 1844  Anson Jones                         (s.a.)
10 Dec 1844 -  5 Feb 1845  Ebenezer Allen (1st time)(acting)   (b. 1804 - d. 1863)
 5 Feb 1845 - 31 Mar 1845  Ashbel Smith                        (b. 1805 - d. 1886)
31 Mar 1845 - 19 Feb 1846  Ebenezer Allen (2nd time)           (s.a.)

Commissioners of Patents (the Chief Clerks of Department of State)
 1 Feb 1839 - 18 Dec 1839  Nathaniel C. Amory                  (s.a.)
18 Dec 1839 -  6 Feb 1843  Joseph Waples                       (s.a.)
 6 Feb 1843 -  6 Jan 1845  John Hall                    
 6 Jan 1846 - 16 Feb 1846  Joseph Concklin Eldredge            (b. 1818 - d. 1881)
 


Chief clerks of the General Post Office

29 Jan 1841 - 1841         George W. Sinks (acting)
13 Dec 1841 - 1842         Archibald C. Hyde                   (b. 1813 - d. 1894)
10 Aug 1842 - 1842         Washington D. Miller                (b. 1814 - d. 1866)
28 Dec 1842 - 1844        
Richard G. Hall                     (b. 1795 - d. 1847)
12 Jan 1844 - 1844         Daniel J. Toler                     (b. 1801 - d. 1854)
 5 Mar 1844 - 19 Feb 1846  Joseph S. Daniels                   (
b. 1809 – d. 1886)

Census
1836 - 1846                the Republic did not conduct a census

Department of War (and Marine)

Secretaries of War
17 Mar 1836 - Apr 1836     Thomas Jefferson Rusk (1st time)    (b. 1803 - d. 1857)
Apr 1836 - Apr 1836        David Thomas (acting)               (b. 1795 - d. 1836)
Apr 1836 - May 1836        Warren DeWitt Clinton Hall (acting) (b. 1788 - d. 1867)
 2 May 1836 - 12 May 1836  Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar           (s.a.)
May 1836 - Aug 1836        Alexander Somervell                 (b. 1796 - d. 1854)
 8 Aug 1836 - 13 Sep 1836  Frederick A. Sawyer (acting)        (d. af.1857)
Sep 1836 -  1 Oct 1836     John Austin Wharton                 (b. 1806 - d. 1838)
 1 Oct 1836 - 22 Oct 1836  Henry Percy Brewster (acting)       (b. 1816 - d. 1884)
22 Oct 1836 - Nov 1837     Thomas Jefferson Rusk (2nd time)    (s.a.)
Nov 1837 - 13 Nov 1838     Barnard Elliott Bee                 (s.a.)
13 Nov 1838 - 16 Dec 1838  George Washington Hockley           (b. 1802 - d. 1854)
16 Dec 1838 - Mar 1840     Albert Sidney Johnston              (b. 1803 - d. 1862)
Mar 1840 - 13 Dec 1841     Branch Tanner Archer                (b. 1790 - d. 1856)
Secretaries of War and Marine
13 Dec 1841 - 17 Dec 1842  George Washington Hockley           (s.a.)
17 Dec 1842 - 16 Jan 1843  Morgan Calvin Hamilton (1st time)   (b. 1809 - d. 1893)
                             (acting)
16 Jan 1843 -  9 Dec 1844  George Washington Hill              (b. 1814 - d. 1860)
 9 Dec 1844 - 10 Mar 1845  Morgan Calvin Hamilton (2nd time)   (s.a.)
                            
(interim)
10 Mar 1845 - 19 Feb 1846  William Gordon Cooke                (b. 1808 - d. 1847)

Commanders of the Army
 4 May 1836 - 31 Oct 1836  Thomas Jefferson Rusk               (s.a.)
31 Oct 1836 - 20 Dec 1836  Mirabeau 
Buonaparte Lamar           (s.a.)
20 Dec 1836 - 31 Jan 1837  Felix Huston                        (b. 1800 - d. 1857)
31 Jan 1837 - 22 Apr 1837  Albert Sidney Johnston              (b. 1803 - d. 1862)
 7 May 1837 - May 1837     Joseph H.D. Rogers                  (b. 1805 - d. 1885)
May 1837                   post abolished

Commodores of the Texas Navy
12 Mar 1836 - Feb 1837     Charles Edward Hawkins              (b. 1802 - d. 1837)
Feb 1837 - 17 Sep 1837     Henry Livingston Thompson           (d. 1837)
Sep 1837 - Mar 1839        Vacant
Apr 1839 - 19 Jul 1843     Edwin Ward Moore                    (b. 1810 - d. 1865)
19 Jul 1843                post abolished 

Superintendents of Indian Affairs
18.. - 184.                Joseph C. Eldredge                  (b. 1818 - d. 1881)
1841 - 19 Feb 1846         Thomas Gehot Western                (b. 1789 - d. 1848)

Department of Treasury

Secretaries of the Treasury
17 Mar 1836 - 25 Sep 1836  Bailey Hardeman                     (b. 1795 - d. 1836)
25 Sep 1836 - 22 Oct 1836  Barnard Elliott Bee                 (s.a.)
22 Oct 1836 - 10 Dec 1838  Henry Smith                         (b. 1788 - d. 1851)
13 Dec 1838 - 13 Mar 1839  Richard Gilliam Dunlap              (b. 1796 - d. 1841)
13 Mar 1839 - 25 May 1839  James Webb (acting)                 (b. 1792 - d. 1856)
25 May 1839 - 31 Aug 1840  James Harper Starr                  (b. 1809 - d. 1890)
30 Sep 1840 - 30 Jan 1841  James Wright Simmons                (b. c.1790 - d. 1858)
30 Jan 1841 - 13 Dec 1841  John Gordon Chalmers                (b. 1801 - d. 1847)
13 Dec 1841 -  5 Feb 1842  Edward Lawrence Stickney (interim)  (s.a.)
 5 Feb 1842 - 1843         William Henry Daingerfield          (b. 1808 - d. 1878)
22 Dec 1843 -  9 Dec 1844  James B. Miller                     (b. c.1801 - d. 1854)
14
Dec 1844 - 1845         William Beck Ochiltree              (b. 1811 - d. 1867)
Jul 1845 - 19 Feb 1846     John Alexander Greer                (b. 1802 - d. 1855)

Treasurers
 5 Dec 1835 - 1836         Joshua Fletcher
20 Dec 1836 - 12 Apr 1840  Asa Brigham (1st time)              (b.  1788 - d. 1844)
1840 - 1841
                James Wright Simmons                (s.a.)
31 Dec 1841 -  3 Jul 1844
  Asa Brigham (2nd time)              (s.a.)
1844 - 19 Feb 1846         Moses Johnson                       (b. 1808 - d. 1853)

Commissioners of the General Land Office
22 Dec 1836 - 14 Dec 1837  Henry Smith (acting)                (b. 1788 - d. 1851)
14 Dec 1837 - 12 Dec 1840  John Pettit Borden                  (b. 1812 - d. 1890)
12 Dec 1840 -  4 Jan 1841  Henry Watson Raglin (interim)       (b. 1817 - d. 1882)
 4 Jan 1841 - 19 Feb 1846  Thomas William Ward                 (b. 1807 - d. 1872)

Commissioner of Revenue
1839 - 11 Dec 1841
        Edward Lawrence Stickney            (s.a.)
                             (acting to 1840)
11 Dec 1841                post abolished

Controllers
30 Dec 1835 - 17 Jan 1836  John Hamilton Money                 (b. 1796 - d. 1855)
17 Jan 1836 - 22 Oct 1836  Henry C. Hudson
Comptrollers of Public Accounts
Jun 1837 - Dec 1837       
Elisha Marshall Pease               (b. 1812 - d. 1883)
Dec 1837 - 15 Jan 1839     Francis Richard Lubbock (1st time)  (b. 1815 - d. 1905)
15 Jan 1839 - 30 Sep 1840  James Wright Simmons                (b. c.1790 – d. 1858)
30 Sep 1840 - 24 Dec 1841 
James B. Shaw (1st time)            (b. c.1818 - d. 1889)
24 Dec 1841 -  1 Jan 1842  Francis Richard Lubbock (2nd time)  (s.a.)
 
1 Jan 1842 - 19 Feb 1846  James B. Shaw (2nd time)            (s.a.)

Auditors
30 Dec 1835 - 16 Mar 1836  John Wyatt Moody (1st time)         (b. 1776 - d. 1839)
16 Mar 1836 - 20 Dec 1836  Asa Brigham (interim)               (b. 1788 - d. 1844)
20 Dec 1836 - 20 Aug 1839  John Wyatt Moody (2nd time)         (s.a.)
22 Aug 1839 - 19 Feb 1846  Charles Mason                       (b. 1810 - d. 1882)

[Republic of
                          Texas Revenue Sevice Flag 1839-1845]
Revenue Service Flag
25 Jan 1839 - 29 Dec 1845

Comptroller of the Customs Service at Galveston
1837 - 1845                Reuben Marmaduke Potter             (b. 1802 - d. 1890)

Collectors of Customs at Galveston
Jun 1837 - Dec 1838        Gail Borden, Jr. (1st time)         (b. 1801 - d. 1874)
Dec 1838 - Dec 1839        Willis Roberts                      (b. 1779 - d. 1853)
Dec 1839 -
Dec 1841        Alden Appola Moore Jackson          (b. c.1808 - d. 1876)
Dec 1841 - Apr 1843        Gail Borden, Jr. (2nd time)         (s.a.)
Jan 1844 - 1846            James Hartwell Cocke                (b. 1797 - d. 1853)


Department of Navy

Secretaries of the Navy
17 Mar 1836 - 22 Oct 1836  Robert Potter                       (b. c.1800 - d. 1842)
28 Oct 1836 -  5 Dec 1837  Samuel Rhoads Fisher                (b. 1794 - d. 1839)
                             (suspended Oct-18 Oct 1837)
 5 Dec 1837 - 13 Dec 1838  William M. Shepherd (acting)        (d. af.1858)
13 Dec 1838 -  2 May 1839  Memucan Hunt, Jr.                   (b. 1807 - d. 1856)
 
2 May 1839 - 13 Dec 1841  Louis P. Cooke                      (b. 1811 - d. 1849)
13 Dec 1841                post consolidated into the Secretary
                           of War and Marine

Commandant of the Marine Corps¹
13 Dec 1836 - 24 Feb 1844  post not established


Department of Justice

Attorneys General
17 Mar 1836 - Apr 1836     David Thomas                        (b. 1795 - d. 1836)
 4 May 1836 - 14 May 1836  Peter William Grayson (1st time)    (b. 1788 - d. 1838)
Nov 1836 - Dec 1836        James Pinckney Henderson            (s.a.)
Feb 1837 - 15 Aug 1837     Peter William Grayson (2nd time)    (s.a.)
15 Aug 1837 - 19 Nov 1838  John Birdsall                       (b. 1802 - d. 1839)
10 Dec 1838 -  1 Jun 1840  John Charles Watrous                (b. 1806 - d. 1874)
 
1 Jun 1840 - 20 Mar 1841  James Webb                          (s.a.)
10 May 1841 - 13 Dec 1841  Francis Asbury Morris               (b. 1817 - d. 1881)
13 Dec 1841 -  9 Dec 1844  George Whitfield Terrell            (b. 1803 - d. 1846)
 9 Dec 1844 - Jul 1845     Ebenezer Allen                      (s.a.)
Jul 1845 - 19 Feb 1846     William Beck Ochiltree              (s.a.)

Solicitors
1836 - 1846                ....
c.1839                     Henry C. Hudson

Marshals of Texas
17 Jan 1836 - 1836         John Hamilton Money                 (s.a.)
1836 - 1837                Robert James Calder                 (b. 1810 - d. 1885)
1837 - 1846                ....


Post Office Department

Postmasters General
12 Dec 1835 - 22 Oct 1836  John Rice Jones, Jr. (1st time)     (b. 1792 - d. 1845)
22 Oct 1836 - 22 Dec 1836  Gustavus A. Parker                  (b. 1787 - d. 1845)
22 Dec 1836 - 11 Oct 1839  Robert Anderson Barr                (b. 1802 - d. 1839)
11 Oct 1839 - 10 Dec 1839  Elijah Sterling Clack Robertson     (b. 1820 - d. 1879)
                             (interim)
10 Dec 1839                Edwin Waller                        (b. 1800 - d. 1881)
10 Dec 1839 - 18 Jan 1841  John Rice Jones, Jr. (2nd time)     (s.a.)
                             (acting to 14 Dec 1839)
18 Jan 1841                Post abolished, replaced by Chief
                           clerks
of the General Post Office


Congress

Senate

Presidents of the Senate
 3 Oct 1836 - 19 Feb 1846  the Vice Presidents
Presidents Pro Tempore ("pro tem") of the Senate
²

 3 Oct 1836 - 21 Dec 1836  Richard Ellis                       (s.a.)
 4 May 1837 - 13 Jun 1837  Jesse Grimes                        (b. 1788 - d. 1866)
                             (acting for vice president Lamar)                    
27 Sep 1837 -  5 Feb 1840  Stephen Hendrickson Everitt         (b. 1806 - d. 1844)
12 Dec 1840 -  5 Feb 1841  Anson Jones                         (s.a.)
 4 Dec 1841 - 13 Dec 1841  
John Alexander Greer (1st time)     (s.a.)
14 Dec 1842 - 16 Jan 1843  John Alexander Greer (2nd time)     (s.a.)
26 Dec 1843 -  3 Feb 1844  John Alexander Greer (3rd time)     (s.a.)
 2 Dec 1844 -  3 Feb 1845  John Alexander Greer (4th time)     (s.a.)
16 Jun 1845 - 28 Jun 1845  John Alexander Gree
r (5th time)     (s.a.)

House of Representatives

Speakers of the House of Representatives
 3 Oct 1836 -  1 May 1837  Ira Ingram                          (b. 1788 - d. 1837) 
 4 May 1837 - 13 Jun 1837  Branch Tanner Archer                (b. 1790 - d. 1856)
26 Sep 1837 -  6 Nov 1838  Joseph Rowe                         (b. 1802 - d. 1866)
 6 Nov 1838 - 11 Nov 1839  John M. Hansford                    (b. c.1800 - d. 1844)
11 Nov 1839 -  1 Nov 1841  David Spangler Kaufman              (b. 1813 - d. 1851)
 1 Nov 1841 - 21 Nov 1842  Kenneth Lewis Anderson              (s.a.)
21 Nov 1842 -  4 Dec 1843  Nicholas Henry Darnell              (b. 1807 - d. 1885)
 4 Dec 1843 -  2 Dec 1844  Richardson A. Scurry                (b. 1811 - d. 1862)
 2 Dec 1844 - 10 Feb 1846  John McClanahan Lewis, Sr.          (b. 1802 - d. 1862)
10 Feb 1846 -  1 May 1846  William Edmund Crump                (b. 1809 - d. 1889)


Supreme Court

Chief Justices of the Supreme Court
16 Dec 1836 - 11 Jul 1838  James Collinsworth                  (b. 1806 - d. 1838) 
19 Nov 1838 - 12 Dec 1838  John Birdsall (pro tempore)         (b. 1802 - d. 1839)
12 Dec 1838 -  5 Dec 1840  Thomas Jefferson Rusk               (b. 1803 - d. 1857)
 5 Dec 1840 - 19 Feb 1846  John Hemphill                       (b. 1803 - d. 1862)


 ¹the Marine Corps of the Texas Republic was established 13 Dec 1836, but the post of Commandant of the Texas Republic Marine Corps was ever established. Marines were under the direction of the Navy Department and served under their own officers aboard ship and ashore, but were subject to the orders of the senior naval officer present. On 24 Feb 1844 Sam Houston signed General Order No. 3, honorably discharging all officers except a minimum needed for the maintenance of the ships.

 ²The Vice Presidents formally served as presidents of the Senate. The Senate elected a President Pro Tempore whenever the Vice President was not in attendance. When the Vice President returned, the President "Pro Tem" lost his place, and when the Vice President was again absent, the Senate again elected a President Pro Tempore.







© Ben Cahoon