Revolution/Republic Timeline

Lorenzo de Zavala

1836

Lorenzo de Zavala plays a key role in the Constitutional Convention of 1836. He is unanimously elected to serve as Vice President of the
Republic of Texas.

President Sam Houston

1836

At the end of the month, Sam Houston defeats Stephen F. Austin to become the first regularly elected President of Texas. He works to demilitarize Texas, establish peace with the Indians, and annex Texas to the United States.

Revolution.Republic Timeline

Jan 5, 1836

Davy Crockett arrives in Nacogdoches, Texas, to aid the revolution

Battle of the Alamo

Feb 23, 1836

Alamo besieged for 13 days until March 6 by Mexican army under General Santa Anna; entire garrison eventually killed

Samuel Colt - Historical Invention

Feb 25, 1836

Samuel Colt patents first multi-shot revolving-cylinder revolver, enabling the firearm to be fired multiple times without reloading

George Childress - Author of the Texas Declaration of Independence

Mar 2, 1836

Republic of Texas declares independence from Mexico in Columbia

Texas Declaration of Independence

Mar 2, 1836

The Texas Declaration of Independence was signed by members of the Convention of 1836. An ad interim government was formed for the newly created Republic of Texas.

Manufactured First Pistol - Samuel Colt

Mar 5, 1836

Samuel Colt manufactures first pistol, 34-caliber "Texas" model

Gonzales was abandoned

Mar 10, 1836

Sam Houston abandoned Gonzales in a general retreat eastward to avoid the invading Mexican army.

Legalizes Slavery

Mar 16, 1836

Constitution of the Republic of Texas approved, legalises slavery

Goliad Massacre

Mar 27, 1836

James Fannin and nearly 400 Texans were executed by the Mexicans at the Goliad Massacre, under order of Santa Anna.

Battle of San Jacinto

Apr 21, 1836

Battle of San Jacinto, Texas wins independence from Mexico

Sam Houston

Apr 21, 1836

Texans under Sam Houston routed the Mexican forces of Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. Thus, independence was won in one of the most decisive battles in history.

Election of Interest

Sep 5, 1836

Sam Houston elected President of the Republic of Texas

Sam Houston

Oct 22, 1836

Sam Houston inaugurated as 1st elected President of the Republic of Texas

Election of Interest - Martin Van Buren

Dec 7, 1836

Martin Van Buren elected the 8th President of the United States

Andrew Jackson

Mar 3, 1837

US President Andrew Jackson and Congress recognize the Republic of Texas

John Deere

May 6, 1837

John Deere creates the first steel plough

Charles Goodyear

Jun 17, 1837

Charles Goodyear obtains his 1st rubber patent

Charles Wilkes

Aug 18, 1838

United States Exploring Expedition headed by Charles Wilkes departs for the Pacific Ocean and Antarctica

Capital of the Republic

1839

The Texas Congress first met in Austin, the frontier site selected for the capital of the Republic.

Battle of Plum Creek

Aug 11, 1840

The Battle of Plum Creek, near present-day Lockhart, ended the boldest and most penetrating Comanche challenge to the Texas Republic.

Texan Santa Fe Expedition

1841

The Texan Santa Fe Expedition set out for New Mexico. Near Sante Fe, they were intercepted by Mexican forces and marched 2000 miles to prison in Mexico City.

Somervell Expedition

1842

Sam Houston authorized Alexander Somervell to lead a retaliatory raid into Mexico. The resulting Somervell Expedition dissolved, however, after briefly taking the border towns of Laredo and Guerreo.

Rafael Vasquez

Mar 5, 1842

A Mexican force of over 500 men under Rafael Vasquez invaded Texas for the first time since the revolution. They briefly occupied San Antonio, but soon headed back to the Rio Grande.

Somervell

Dec 20, 1842

Some 300 members of the Somervell force set out to continue raids into Mexico. Ten days and 20 miles later, the ill-fated Mier Expedition surrendered at the Mexican town of Mier.

Sam Houston

Dec 29, 1842

Under orders of Sam Houston, officials arrived in Austin to remove the records of the Republic of Texas to the city of Houston, touching off the bloodless Archives War.

Black Bean Episode

Mar 25, 1843

Seventeen Texans were executed in what became known as the Black Bean Episode, which resulted from the Mier Expedition, one of several raids by the Texans into Mexico.

James Polk

Dec 29, 1845

U. S. President James Polk followed through on a campaign platform promising to annex Texas, and signed legislation making Texas the 28th state of the United States.