Austin, Stephen Fuller (1793-1836), was an American colonizer and pioneer. He started the first American colony in Texas, which was then part of Mexico. His father, Moses Austin, had obtained a grant of land on the Brazos River from Spanish authorities in Mexico in 1821. Moses planned to bring 300 families to settle the land. But he died before establishing the colony. Stephen obtained permission to continue the project—first from Spain, and later from Mexico after it won independence from Spain in 1821. The main settlement was named San Felipe de Austin in Stephen’s honor. Later, Austin, Texas, was named for him.
Austin managed the affairs of the colony wisely. By 1830, there were more than 20,000 Americans in Texas. That year, the Mexican government prohibited further immigration of Americans to Texas. This action increased the desire of many Texans for a more independent government. In 1833, when Austin asked Mexico for a separate state government for Texas, he was accused of trying to annex Texas to the United States. He was sent to prison, but never received a trial. He returned to Texas in 1835. There he found the people ready to fight for freedom from Mexico. Austin took command of the Texan army, but soon resigned. He went to the United States for money and supplies for the Texans.
Texas became a republic in 1836. Austin was a candidate for President, but Sam Houston was elected. Austin was named secretary of state. He worked secretly for the U.S. annexation of Texas but died on Dec. 27, 1836, nine years before it happened. He was born on Nov. 3, 1793, in Wythe County, Virginia. A statue of Austin is in the U.S. Capitol.
