Texas People

Santa Anna was born in Mexico on February 21, 1794. His was a military life, and as a young officer he once courted the
sister of Emperor Agustin de Iturbide, whom he supported at the time. Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821,
and was born a bankrupt nation in political chaos. Mexico quickly went through many different presidents. Santa Anna was
a key political factor in the overthrow of Emperor Iturbide, which gained Mexico its independence. He was considered a hero
for his efforts. He officially became president in 1833, and removed the 1821 constitution which guaranteed certain rights of
the people living in Texas. Rebellion quickly broke out, and the powerfull Mexican Army swept in to remove the problem.
The small Texan Army finally defeated the Mexicans at San Jacinto in 1836. Santa Anna's life was spared, and he returned
to Mexico. Santa Anna lost one of his legs defending Veracruz against a French attack, and was hailed as a hero again.
He remained president until 1845 when he was exiled to Cuba. During the Mexican-American War Santa Anna returned to
power and then exiled again after the Americans took Mexico City. He was recalled again in 1853, and then exiled again in
1855. Santa Anna returned to Mexico in 1874 and died 2 years later.

Sam Houston was born on March 2, 1793 In Tennessee. He ran away from home at the age of 16 to live among the
Cherokee Indians. He later served under Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812, and in the Creek Indian Wars where he
received a wound in his shoulder that never fully healed. He later served in Congress and was elected Governor of
Tennessee in 1827. While in office, he married briefly, but the marriage didn't last. He left office to rejoin the Cherokee
Indians. He went to Texas in 1832, and served in the Mexican Independence War for Texas. Leading the Texans, they
defeated the strong Mexican Army, and drove them out of Texas. He served as President of Texas for two terms, and then
became a a U.S. Senator for Texas. At the beginning of the Cival War, Houston became Governor of the state. He was
opposed to the seccession of Texas, and lost his position of Govenor when he wouldn't swear allegience to the Confederate
States of America. Sam Houston died before the war was over on July 26, 1863.

Travis was born in 1809 in South Carolina, and married briefly when he was 19, but the marriage failed. He and his wife did
have 2 children, one which he kept custody of. Travis arrived in Texas in 1831 and continued his chosen profession, which
was an attorney, but quickly joined the Texan Army. In January of 1836, Travis was ordered to take 31 men to the Alamo
where he unexpectedly became commander. On February 22, the Mexicans began their attack. In the end, only about 188
men defended the Alamo, but they lasted for 13 days. Each defender died in battle on March 6, 1836.

Jim Bowie was born in 1795 in Kentucky, and was the brother of the man that invented the Bowie knife. He spent most of his
youth in Louisianna, and had a reputation for being bold and fearless. Jim Bowie was very handy with his knife, and was
partially responcible for making it so famous. His dealings with famous pirate Jean Laffite also added to his reputation. In
1828 Bowie moved to Texas. He had a leading role in the Battle of Concepcion, and in the Grass Fight near San Antonio.
Sam Houston ranked him as Colonel, and sent him to the Alamo in 1836. Bowie was supposed to disband the Alamo, but
instead he stayed there, and used the fort. Travis joined him soon after, and the two shared leadership. Jim Bowie died
defending the Alamo on March 6, 1836.

It was rumoured that Bowie was ill and confined to a cot when the Mexicans finally raided the Alamo, but many dispute that
theory.

Davy Crockett is one of the most famous of the doomed Alamo defenders. He was born in Tennessee on August 17, 1786.
He didn't learn to read and write until he was 18. He then married, and had several children. Crockett served in the U.S.
Congress from 1827-1833. Crockett was a bear hunter, a frontiersmen, and an Indian fighter. When he lost re-election to
Congress, Crockett left Tennessee and moved to Texas. He was sent to the Alamo just days before it fell. Crockette's post
in the Alamo was where some of the heavier fighting took place. There are some who say that Crockett didn't die fighting, but
surrendered and was killed later. But that, as they say, just wasn't his style. He likely died swinging his gun as a club at any
Mexican who neared him.

Juan Sequin was also stationed at the Alamo, but in a twist of fate, he was out delivering a message when the Alamo fell, and
survived the seige. Sequin was born in San Antonio in 1806. He was an early critic of Santa Anna's political career in
Mexico. His father had been a strong ally of Stephen F. Austin. Juan Sequin and a band of Tejanos fought against Santa
Anna in 1835, and he fought again with his company in the Battle of San Jacinto. Sequin was awarded with the rank of
Colonel, and took command of the military Garrison in San Antonio. He also had the unhappy duty of burying the remains of
the Alamo defenders, which had been burnt by the Mexican Army after their defeat. Sequin was elected to the Texas Senate
in 1838 for two years, and resigned to become the Mayor of San Antonio. His duties as mayor became increasingly difficult
as new Anglos arrived with prejudices against Tejanos. They robbed and terrorized them. Sequin tried to defend their rights,
but his defense of Tejanos had him charged with treason, and he fled with his family to Mexico. It was not a warm welcome.
He was arrested and thrown in prison. He was given the choice to either join the Mexican Army, or stay in prison, and he
made the difficult decision of joining Mexico's Army. Juan Sequin fought against the U.S. during the Mexican-American War.
Afterwards, he was permitted to return to San Antonio, but eventually left again in 1867. It seemed he no longer belonged
anywhere. He died in 1890 a forgotten hero.

Erastus Smith was born in New York on April 19, 1787. At age eleven he moved with his family to Mississippi. In 1821
Smith moved to Texas. He was hearing impaired, but we thrived in his new home. He was recruited by the Texan Army
when the Mexican Revolution began, and worked as a scout. He was a key figure in several major Texan battles. Smith
was a spy for the Texans, and often discovered valuble details about the Mexicans. Once the Alamo fell, he was sent by
Sam Houston to discover what went wrong. His scouting party found the survivors including Susana Dickinson and took
them to Houston's camp. Smith was also responsible for destroying Vince's Bridge during the Battle of San Jacinto that
kept the Mexicans from retreating once the Texans attacked. He died soon after the end of the war in 1837.