Rafael Gonzáles (1789–1857) was a Tejano military leader and Governor of the Mexican state of

Coahuila y Tejas Coahuila y Tejas, officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila y Tejas (), was one of the constituent states of the newly established United Mexican States under its 1824 Constitution. It had two capitals: first Saltillo (1822–1825) f ...

from 1824 to 1826.

Early life

Gonzáles was born in

San Antonio de Béxar ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_t ...

in 1789. He joined the military as a cadet to collaborate at the

Nuestra Señora de Loreto Reducción de Nuestra Señora de Loreto (''Reduction of Our Lady of Laurel''), founded in 1610, was the first Indian Reductions, reductions established by the Society of Jesus, Jesuits in the Province of Paraguay in the Americas during the Spanish ...

presidio A presidio ( en, jail, fortification) was a fortified base established by the Spanish Empire around between 16th and 18th centuries in areas in condition of their control or influence. The presidios of Spanish Philippines in particular, were cen ...

. In October 1810, at age 20, Gonzáles was made Second Alferez, and two years later he earned the title of First Alferez.

Career

On June 3, 1814, Gonzáles got the degree of Second

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

, and joined the

's garrison of

Monclova Monclova (), is a city and the seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila. According to the 2015 census, the city had 231,107 inhabitants. Its metropolitan area has 381,432 inhabitants and a ...

( Coahuila, in modern

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 ...

). One year later, on July 14, 1815, he was promoted to first lieutenant of the Royalist company of Presidio de Rio Grande, and on May 18, 1818 he reached the rank of captain. On July 3, 1821, Gonzáles participated in the

Mexican War of Independence The Mexican War of Independence ( es, Guerra de Independencia de México, links=no, 16 September 1810 – 27 September 1821) was an armed conflict and political process resulting in Mexico's independence from Spain. It was not a single, co ...

. On December 12, 1821 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. On August 15, 1824, he was appointed governor of Coahuila and Texas. In that year, Gonzales ''granted each Shawnee family'' who settled in Texas ''a square mile of land in the south bank of Red River''. He was governor of Coahuila and Texas until March 15, 1826, when he was replaced by Victor Blanco. In 1834 Gonzales was appointed secretary of Coahuila and Texas. He died in 1857.

Legacy

The town of Gonzales, Texas was named to honor his bravery.

References

External links

Texas State Historical Association

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzales, Rafael Governors of Mexican Texas People from San Antonio 1789 births 1857 deaths 19th-century American politicians Tejano politicians