France – Republic of Texas relations refers to the historical foreign relations between the

Republic of Texas The Republic of Texas ( es, República de Tejas) was a sovereign state in North America that existed from March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846, that bordered Mexico, the Republic of the Rio Grande in 1840 (another breakaway republic from Mex ...

and France. Relations began in September 1839 when France appointed Alponse Dubois de Saligny to serve as

chargé d'affaires A ''chargé d'affaires'' (), plural ''chargés d'affaires'', often shortened to ''chargé'' (French) and sometimes in colloquial English to ''charge-D'', is a diplomat who serves as an embassy's chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador ...

. Relations officially ceased upon annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845.

French recognition of Texan independence

Following Texas' separation from Mexico, the major European powers were reluctant to take any steps toward recognizing the self-proclaimed Republic until it became clear that it could survive in the long-term and what international ramifications formal recognition might produce. France was one of the few nations to grant semi-official recognition of Texas on September 25, 1839. In 1841 the French opened a legation which still stands in

Austin Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

, (a few miles from the site of the current Texas Capitol building), and Texas in turn opened an embassy in Paris. France had wanted to set up a consulate general in

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 a consulate in Houston as well.

Trade

Texas exported cotton, which by the 19th century was fast becoming a vital commodity in Europe and an increasing cause of tension between France and the UK, and other

raw materials A raw material, also known as a feedstock, unprocessed material, or primary commodity, is a basic material that is used to produce goods, finished goods, energy, or intermediate materials that are feedstock for future finished products. As feedst ...

to France, while France exported iron,

machinery A machine is a physical system using power to apply forces and control movement to perform an action. The term is commonly applied to artificial devices, such as those employing engines or motors, but also to natural biological macromolecule ...

and finished goods to Texas. Both the French and Texian navies patrolled the Gulf of Mexico, although, while the French Navy was never at war with the Mexican Navy, the Texian navy often was. French ships began making less frequent visits to Mexican Ports, and increased trade with Texas.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:France-Republic of Texas relations Texas, Republic Texas Revolution Bilateral relations of the Republic of Texas French-American culture in Texas

French recognition of Texan independence

Trade

See also

References

External links