''Laura'' is a former steamboat built in 1835, originating from a shipyard in

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...

. ''Laura'' measured in length, and its beam measured in width. The mercantile firm of McKinney & Williams acquired ''Laura'' in June 1835. ''Laura'' engaged on behalf of

Texas Independence Texas secession movements, also known as the Texas independence movement or Texit, refers to both the secession of Texas during the American Civil War as well as activities of modern organizations supporting such efforts to secede from the Unite ...

. ''Laura'' towed schooners to sea on behalf of the Texas Navy. On September 2, 1835, it towed an armed schooner to wage a counterattack against a Mexican cruiser. The ''Correo'' had been boarding incoming vessels from the United States. ''Laura'' assisted the schooner ''San Felipe'' in the capture of the ''Correo''. The Texas Navy also used ''Laura'' to transport troops and supplies. Early in 1837, the original developers of

Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...

, Augustus Chapman Allen and

John Kirby Allen John Kirby Allen (1810 – August 15, 1838), was a co-founder of the city of Houston and a former member of the Republic of Texas House of Representatives. He was born in Canaseraga Village, New York (the present day hamlet of Sullivan in the ...

, employed the ''Laura'' to demonstrate that Buffalo Bayou was a navigable river as far as their town site. This demonstration voyage also included passengers such as John Kirby Allen, Moseley Baker, Benjamin C. Franklin, and

Francis Lubbock Francis Richard Lubbock (October 16, 1815June 22, 1905) was the ninth Governor of Texas and was in office during the American Civil War. He was the brother of Thomas Saltus Lubbock, for whom Lubbock County, Texas, and the eponymous county se ...

. The ''Laura'' arrived sometime around January 21, 1837, making it the first steamboat to arrive in Houston. In March 1838, the ''Telegraph'' (of Houston) reported that ''Laura'' was making regular trips between Houston and Galveston.Sibley (1968), p. 40. The last known sighting of the ''Laura'' was in June 1840, when she was seen under tow by the steamship ''Constitution'' after breaking both drive shafts in the Brazos River.

References

Steamboats of the United States Ships of the Texas Navy 1835 ships {{ship stub