"The independence of Texas is recognized! Don't you see it in the papers?” - Stephen F. Austin’s last words

Texas has a unique history among the 50 states that comprise the United States of America, and much of that is due to the nature of the men who brought about its independence. Of them, few are as famous or more important than Stephen F. Austin.

Born in the very shadow of the Founding Fathers in Virginia, Austin seemed destined from birth to do something special. Certainly, his father Moses saw potential in the boy, training him up to take the lead in whatever situation he found himself in, and various life experiences transformed Stephen. Moses provided his son with plenty of the difficulties, including bankruptcy, business losses, and family squabbles, all by the time his son was 20 years old.

Ultimately Moses bequeathed his son the chance to become an empresario, a 19th-century leader of American pioneers in Texas. Austin in turn shaped the future of Texas in a way that no other leader ever had the opportunity to do, and by carefully choosing men like himself, politically, religiously, and ethically, he helped create an independent nation (and future state) known for its rugged individualism and self-determination. Unfortunately, he also created a place where slavery, America’s great shame, was allowed to flourish for more than 40 years, and a place where people of color would struggle for generations to receive equality under the laws, many of which he either wrote or inspired.

Ironically, the man whose name is so synonymous with Texas was not involved in the most famous battles that secured its independence. This actually ensured that he survived when so many of his contemporaries died, but he still lost his run for the presidency of Texas and instead had to accept an appointment as the Republic’s first Secretary of State. Ultimately, it made little difference in the end, for he served only two months before he died of pneumonia just after his 43rd birthday. But despite his premature death, what cannot be questioned is how profound an impact Austin had on Texas, Mexico, and the United States over the course of several decades.

Stephen F. Austin: The Life and Legacy of the Father of Texas discusses how he became one of the Southwest’s most important figures. You will learn about Austin like never before.