Rafael Gonzáles

Rafael Gonzales (1789–1857) was a Tejano military leader and Governor of Coahuila and Texas from 1824 to 1826.

Early life 
Gonzales was born in San Antonio de Béxar in 1789. He joined the military as a cadet in the presidial company of Nuestra Señora de Loreto. In October 1810, at age 20, Gonzales was made Second Alferez, and two years later he earned the title of First Alferez.

Career 

On June 3, 1814, Gonzales was promoted to second lieutenant, and established a presidio in Monclova (Coahuila, in modern Mexico). 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, Gonzales participated in the Mexican Independence movement. On December 12, 1821 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. On August 15, 1824, he was named 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 named 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
 Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Category:Governors of Mexican Texas
Category:People from San Antonio
Category:1789 births
Category:1857 deaths
Category:19th-century American politicians