Spanish and Mexican Governors of Texas

Spain began to settle Texas (or Tejas) for much the same reason that motivated the settlement of Upper California, i.e. the danger of foreign encroachment. In California the threat was from the Russians; in Texas it was from France. The explorer René Robert de la Salle landed in Texas and founded a French fort on Lavaca Bay in 1685. This didn't work out very well, La Salle was killed by his own men in 1687, and most of the remnants of his party left. When the Spanish arrived in 1689, all they found were some French deserters living with Indians. Nevertheless, Spanish authorities were now alarmed and pursued an active settlement policy in Texas until France lost its position in the New World after the Seven Years War in 1763. Indeed, French Louisiana west of the Mississippi was ceded to Spain. Spanish exposure in Texas, much troubled by hostile Indians, was then withdrawn to San Antonio and Goliad.

The foundings of the five missions that still exist in San Antonio are noted in the table. The three missions founded in 1731 were all relocated for safety from East Texas. La Bahía at Goliad was also a relocation from the coast.

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Copyright (c) 2005 Kelley L. Ross, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved