This is a timeline of the Republic of Texas, spanning the time from the Texas Declaration of Independence from

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

on March 2, 1836, up to the transfer of power to the State of

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

on February 19, 1846.

1836

Texas Declares Independence *March 2 – The

Texas Declaration of Independence The Texas Declaration of Independence was the formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico in the Texas Revolution. It was adopted at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836, and was forma ...

is signed by 58 delegates at an assembly at

Washington-on-the-Brazos Washington-on-the-Brazos is an unincorporated community along the Brazos River in Washington County, Texas, United States. The town is best known for being the site of the Convention of 1836 and the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independenc ...

and the Republic of Texas is declared.

David G. Burnet David Gouverneur Burnet (April 14, 1788 – December 5, 1870) was an early politician within the Republic of Texas, serving as interim President of Texas (1836 and again in 1841), Vice President of the Republic of Texas (1839–1841), and Se ...

is elected ad interim president by the delegates. Texians with Dr. James Grant are defeated at the

Battle of Agua Dulce The Battle of Agua Dulce Creek was a skirmish during the Texas Revolution between Mexican troops and rebellious colonists of the Mexican province of Texas, known as Texians. As part of the Goliad Campaign to retake the Texas Gulf Coast, Mex ...

. *1836 March 3 –

James B. Bonham James Butler Bonham (February 20, 1807 – March 6, 1836) was a 19th-century American soldier who died at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution. He was a second cousin of William B. Travis and was a messenger of the Battle of the A ...

arrives back at the Alamo telling Lt. Col. William B. Travis that Col.

James Fannin James Walker Fannin Jr. (1804 or 1805 – March 27, 1836) was an American military figure and slave trader in the Texas Army and leader during the Texas Revolution (1835-1836) against Mexico. After being outnumbered and surrendering to Mexi ...

was not coming. *March 4 –

Santa Anna Santa Anna may refer to: * Santa Anna, Texas, a town in Coleman County in Central Texas, United States * Santa Anna, Starr County, Texas * Santa Anna Township, DeWitt County, Illinois, one of townships in DeWitt County, Illinois, United States. ...

holds a council of war with Generals Joaquín Ramírez y Sesma,

Martín Perfecto de Cos Martín Perfecto de Cos (1800–1 October 1854) was a Mexican Army general and politician during the mid-19th century. Born in Veracruz, the son of an attorney, he became an army cadet at the age of 20, a lieutenant in 1821, and a brigadier gener ...

, Manuel F. Castrillón and Colonels

Juan Almonte Juan Nepomuceno Almonte Ramírez (May 15, 1803 – March 21, 1869) was a Mexican soldier, commander, minister of war, congressman, diplomat, and presidential candidate. He was the natural son of José María Morelos, a leading commander during ...

, Agustín Amat, Francisco Duque and Manuel Romero Rubio to plan the final assault. Sam Houston is appointed commander of Texas forces. *March 6 –

Battle of the Alamo The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna reclaimed the Alamo Mission near San Anto ...

: the Alamo falls. Approximately 190-250

Texians Texians were Anglo-American residents of Mexican Texas and, later, the Republic of Texas. Today, the term is used to identify early settlers of Texas, especially those who supported the Texas Revolution. Mexican settlers of that era are refer ...

and

Tejanos Tejanos (, ; singular: ''Tejano/a''; Spanish for "Texan", originally borrowed from the Caddo ''tayshas'') are the residents of the state of Texas who are culturally descended from the Mexican population of Tejas and Coahuila that lived in th ...

died. The thirteen-day siege resulted in the deaths of all of its defenders, including William B. Travis, Davy Crockett, and

Jim Bowie James Bowie ( ) ( – March 6, 1836) was a 19th-century American pioneer, slave smuggler and trader, and soldier who played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution. He was among the Americans who died at the Battle of the Alamo. Stories of h ...

. *March 11 – Houston begins his retreat from Gonzales precipitating the

Runaway Scrape The Runaway Scrape events took place mainly between September 1835 and April 1836 and were the evacuations by Texas residents fleeing the Mexican Army of Operations during the Texas Revolution, from the Battle of the Alamo through the decisive B ...

. *March 12 –

Battle of Refugio The Battle of Refugio was fought from March 12–15, 1836, near Refugio, Texas. Mexican General José Urrea and 1,500 Centralista soldiers fought against Amon B. King and his 28 American volunteers and Lieutenant Colonel William Ward and hi ...

begins: Texian troops commanded by

Lieutenant-Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colo ...

William Ward and Amos King are attacked by General Urrea. After several hours of fighting, the Texians retreat. *March 15 - Ward's troops are captured by the Mexicans. *March 16 -

becomes interim president of the Republic of Texas. *March 19 –

Battle of Coleto The Battle of Coleto, also known as the Battle of Coleto Creek, the Battle of the Prairie, and the Batalla del Encinal del Perdido, was fought on March 19–20, 1836, during the Goliad campaign of the Texas Revolution. In February, General Jos ...

: General Urrea corners Colonel

near

Goliad Goliad ( ) is a city in Goliad County, Texas, United States. It is known for the 1836 Goliad massacre during the Texas Revolution. It had a population of 1,620 at the 2020 census. Founded on the San Antonio River, it is the county seat of Gol ...

. *March 20 – Fannin surrenders. *March 21 – The Battle of Copano is fought. *March 22 – King's troops are captured by the Mexicans. *March 27 – Goliad Massacre:

and nearly 400 Texians are executed by order 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 ...

and his army camp near

San Felipe de Austin San Felipe ( ), also known as San Felipe de Austin, is a town in Austin County, Texas, United States. The town was the social, economic, and political center of the early Stephen F. Austin colony. The population was 747 at the 2010 census. History ...

. *April 21 –

Battle of San Jacinto The Battle of San Jacinto ( es, Batalla de San Jacinto), fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day La Porte and Pasadena, Texas, was the final and decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Samuel Houston, the Texan Army engage ...

: Texian army under Sam Houston overwhelmingly defeats Mexican force under

, securing Texas independence. Santa Anna captured. *May 14 –

Treaties of Velasco A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between actors in international law. It is usually made by and between sovereign states, but can include international organizations, individuals, business entities, and other legal perso ...

signed by Republic of Texas officials and General

ending the Texas Revolution. *October 3 - The

1st Congress of the Republic of Texas The First Congress of the Republic of Texas, consisting of the Senate of the Republic of Texas and House of Representatives of the Republic of Texas, met in Columbia at two separate buildings (one for each chamber) and then in Houston at the prese ...

assembles at Columbia. *October 22 - Sam Houston becomes president of the republic.

1837

*March 1 - The United States recognizes Texas's independence. *April - Houston becomes the sixth temporary capital of the republic.

1838

*October 5 - Disaffected band of Cherokee kills or abducts 18 extended-family members in the

Killough massacre The Killough massacre is believed to have been both the largest and last Native American attack on white settlers in East Texas. The massacre took place on October 5, 1838, near Larissa, Texas, in the northwestern part of Cherokee County. There ...

, the largest Native American attack on white settlers in Texas. *December 10 -

Mirabeau B. Lamar Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar (August 16, 1798 – December 25, 1859) was an Lawyer, attorney born in Georgia, who became a Texas politician, poet, diplomat, and soldier. He was a leading Texas political figure during the Republic of Texas, Texas ...

becomes president of the republic.

1839

*March - An uprising of Nacogdoches-area Tejanos who did not support independence from Mexico culminated in the Córdova Rebellion and its defeat at Battleground Prairie in Guadalupe County. *July 12 - The

Cherokee The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...

under The Bowl accept President Lamar's proposal of relocation to the adjacent

Arkansas Territory The Arkansas Territory was a territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1819, to June 15, 1836, when the final extent of Arkansas Territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Arkansas. Arkansas Post was the first territo ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

but refuse to begin preparations for departure after asking for an extension to collect their already planted crops. *July 15 - The first day of the

Battle of the Neches The Battle of the Neches, the main engagement of the Cherokee War of 1838–1839 (part of the Texas–Indian Wars), took place on 15–16 July in 1839 in what is now the Redland community (between Tyler and Ben Wheeler, Texas). It resulted from t ...

repulses a Cherokee attack against the Texian army under General Kelsey Douglass. *July 16 - The second day of the

ends in a rout of the Cherokee, scattering them and their allies from their settlements on the upper Neches. Generals

Rusk A rusk is a hard, dry biscuit or a twice-baked bread. It is sometimes used as a teether for babies. In some cultures, rusk is made of cake, rather than bread: this is sometimes referred to as cake rusk. In the UK, the name also refers to a whea ...

and Burleson command the Texians, and Vice President

and Secretary of War

Albert Sidney Johnston Albert Sidney Johnston (February 2, 1803 – April 6, 1862) served as a general in three different armies: the Texian Army, the United States Army, and the Confederate States Army. He saw extensive combat during his 34-year military career, figh ...

are both wounded. Both Cherokee chiefs, The Bowl and Big Mush, are killed. *September 25 - France recognizes Texas's independence. *October - The capital

1840

*March 19:

Council House Fight The Council House Fight, often referred to as the Council House Massacre, was a fight between soldiers and officials of the Republic of Texas and a delegation of Comanche chiefs during a peace conference in San Antonio on March 19, 1840. The mee ...

*June 1: Forces gathered in

San Patricio, Texas San Patricio is a city in Nueces and San Patricio counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 384 at the 2020 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, San Patricio, located at (27.959196, -97.773134), has a t ...

to organize the

Republic of the Rio Grande The Republic of the Rio Grande ( es, República del Río Grande) was an independent nation that insurgents fighting against the Centralist Republic of Mexico sought to establish in northern Mexico. The Republic of the Rio Grande was one of a se ...

expedition. *August 6–8: Comanche raids sacked Victoria and Linnville. *August 12:

Battle of Plum Creek The Battle of Plum Creek was a clash between allied Tonkawa, militia, and Rangers of the Republic of Texas and a huge Comanche war party under Chief Buffalo Hump, which took place near Lockhart, Texas, on August 12, 1840, following the Great ...

1841

*June - 321 men under Hugh McLeod and George Thomas Howard at the behest of President

began an invasion of Santa Fe. After confusing the

Wichita River The Wichita River ( ), part of the Red River watershed, lies in north-central Texas. Rising in northeastern Knox County at the confluence of its North and South Forks, the river flows northeast across Baylor, Archer, Wichita, and Clay count ...

for the Red River they arrived on October 5 near present-day

Tucumcari, New Mexico Tucumcari (; ) is a city in and the county seat of Quay County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 5,278 at the 2020 census. Tucumcari was founded in 1901, two years before Quay County was established. History In 1901, the Chicago, ...

, were captured without firing a shot and were marched to prison at the

San Carlos Fortress The San Carlos Fortress (in Spanish: ''Fortaleza de San Carlos'') is an 18th-century fortress in the city of Perote, in the Mexican state of Veracruz. It is also known as the Fort of San Carlos, Perote Castle, the Castle of San Carlos, Perote P ...

Perote, Veracruz Perote is a city and municipality in the Mexican state of Veracruz. It serves as the seat of government for the surrounding municipality of the same name, which borders on Las Vigas de Ramírez, Acajete, Xico and Tlalnelhuayocan, and the stat ...

before ultimately being released in June 1842. The disgrace was to lead to the return of Sam Houston. *December 13 - Sam Houston becomes president of the republic.

1842

*March - A division of the Mexican Army led by Ráfael Vásquez invades Texas and captures San Antonio and Goliad, only to withdraw a few days later. *June – July - A division of the Mexican Army led by

Antonio Canales Rosillo Antonio Canales Rosillo (1802 in Monterrey, Nuevo León – 1852 in Camargo, Tamaulipas) was a 19th-century Mexican politician, surveyor, and military officer also known for co-founding the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande. Military car ...

invades south Texas and is repulsed near Fort Lipantitlán. *September 11 - A division of the Mexican Army led by Gen.

Adrián Woll Adrián Woll (December 2, 1795 – February 1875) was a French Mexican general in the army of Mexico during the Texas Revolution and the military conflict between Mexico and the Republic of Texas which followed. Woll was governor of Tamaulipas f ...

invades Texas and captures San Antonio. *September 18 - Col.

Mathew Caldwell Matthew Caldwell, (March 8, 1798 – December 28, 1842), also spelled Mathew Caldwell was a 19th-century Texas settler, military figure, Captain of the Gonzales – Seguin Rangers and a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Because of ...

's and Capt.

Jack Hays Christopher John Hays (12 December 1918 – 23 February 1983) was an English association footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are assoc ...

' companies attack General Woll's army at the Battle of Salado Creek.Early Days in Texas by Nathan Boone Burkett (1820-1898) *September 18 - 36 Texians are surrounded and killed by the Mexican Army in the

Dawson Massacre The Dawson massacre, also called the Dawson expedition, was an incident in which 36 Texian militiamen were killed by Mexican soldiers on September 17, 1842 near San Antonio de Bexar (now the U.S. city of San Antonio, Texas). The event occurred ...

. *December 26 - 261 Texians are taken prisoner in the ill-fated Mier Expedition, after they cause about 800 casualties in

Pedro de Ampudia Pedro Nolasco Martín José María de la Candelaria Francisco Javier Ampudia y Grimarest (January 30, 1805 – August 7, 1868) was born in Havana, Cuba, and served Mexico as a Northern army officer for most of his life. At various points he was ...

's force at the Battle of Mier, where they were outnumbered ten to one by the Mexican Army. *December 29 - The people of Austin fire on Texian officials, who attempted to move the government records to

at Pres. Houston's request, in the

Texas Archive War The Texas Archive War was an 1842 dispute over an attempted move of the Republic of Texas national archives from Austin to Houston and, more broadly, over President Sam Houston's efforts to make Houston the capital of Texas. Background The Republi ...

1843

* April 24 – August 6, Snively Expedition; an operation led by

Jacob Snively Jacob Snively (1809–1871) was a surveying, surveyor, civil engineer, Officer (armed forces), officer of the Texian Army and the Army of the Republic of Texas, California Gold Rush#Forty-niners, California 49er, miner, and Arizona :wikt:pioneer, ...

to intercept a train of Mexican traders who would be returning from

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

on the Santa Fe Trail by way of Texas territory and to seize their goods. This was to be in retaliation for the Mexican raids on San Antonio in 1842 and for the mistreatment of Texas prisoners captured in the Mier Expedition and on the Texian

Santa Fe Expedition The Texan Santa Fe Expedition was a commercial and military expedition to secure the Republic of Texas's claims to parts of Northern New Mexico for Texas in 1841. The expedition was unofficially initiated by the then-President of Texas, Mirabeau B ...

. Despite defeating a detachment of Mexican soldiers on the

Arkansas River The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. It generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's source basin lies in the western United Stat ...

, they caused a border incident with the United States, and were disarmed by U. S. Dragoons. Those who remained were not strong enough to defeat the guard on the train and returned to Texas. * May 16 - Two sloops-of-war of the Texas Navy of the Republic engage Mexican naval vessels in the

Naval Battle of Campeche The Naval Battle of Campeche took place on April 30, 1843, and May 16, 1843. The battle featured the most advanced warships of its day, including the Mexican steamer '' Guadalupe'' and the equally formidable '' Montezuma'' which engaged a squadr ...

1844

*September 16 - All Texas prisoners are released by Mexico on order from Santa Anna. *December 9 -

Anson Jones Anson Jones (January 20, 1798 – January 09, 1858) was a doctor, businessman, member of Congress, and the fourth and last President of the Republic of Texas. Early life Jones was born on January 20, 1798, in Great Barrington, Massach ...

becomes president of the republic.

1845

*February 28 - The

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

passes a bill that would authorize the United States to annex the Republic of Texas. *March 1 - United States President

John Tyler John Tyler (March 29, 1790 – January 18, 1862) was the tenth president of the United States, serving from 1841 to 1845, after briefly holding office as the tenth vice president in 1841. He was elected vice president on the 1840 Whig tick ...

signs the authorization bill. *October 13 - A majority of voters in the Republic approve a proposed Texas state

constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When these princ ...

. *December 29 - The Republic of Texas is annexed by the United States of America.

1846

*February 19 - Power is transferred from the Republic of Texas to the State of Texas.

References

External links

Texas Independence Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Timeline Of The Republic Of Texas Republic of Texas History of the Southern United States Texas-related lists