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The Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 was a treaty between the United States and Spain that gave Florida to the U.S. and set out a boundary between the U.S. and New Spain (now Mexico). It settled a standing border dispute between the two countries and was considered a triumph of American diplomacy. The latter "settlement" was never accepted by American Southerners in general or Louisianans in particular. They later migrated from Louisiana territory and crossed into Spanish Texas, firm in their belief … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know By What Treaty the U.S. Formally Relinquished All Claims to Texas?

In 1925 Miriam A. Ferguson became the first woman in Texas, and the second woman in the nation, to serve as governor. Her husband James Ferguson served as Governor of Texas from 1915 to 1917. However, he was impeached, convicted, and removed from office during his second term. As part of his conviction he was not allowed to hold state office in Texas again. After her husband’s impeachment and conviction, "Ma" Ferguson ran as a Democrat for the office. Against the odds, Ma Ferguson was elected. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know Who Was the First Woman in Texas to Serve as Governor?

At Lyndon Johnson’s request, President John Kennedy named John Connally Secretary of the Navy in 1961. Connally resigned eleven months later to run for the Texas governorship. Connally fought hard to protect the Navy’s role in the national space program, having vigorously opposed assigning most space research to the United States Air Force. He managed one of the largest employers in the world. The Navy had an annual budget of $14 billion, and had more than 600,000 in uniform and 650,000 civilian … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know Who Was the First Texan Appointed Secretary to the Navy?

Alonso Alvarez de Pineda was the Spanish explorer who first mapped the coastline of Texas. Alvarez de Pineda left Jamaica in early 1519 and sailed west to follow the northern coastline of the Gulf. He sailed west from the Florida Keys to hug the Gulf Coast. The expedition established the remainder of the boundaries of the Gulf of Mexico, while disproving the idea of sea passage to Asia and verifying that Florida was a peninsula instead of an island. His map is the first known document of Texas … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know the Spanish Explorer Who Mapped the Coastline of Texas?

Only two (2) of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence were Native Texans - Jose Antonio Navarro and Jose Francisco Ruiz. Jose Antonio Navarro was an early proponent of Texas independence. He took part in the 1812-1813 Magee, Gutierrez and Toledo resistance movements and later served as leader in the Texas Revolution. Jose Francisco Ruiz allied himself with the Texas Revolution in 1835 and traveled to Washington-on-the-Brazos in late February 1836 as a delegate to the Convention of … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know How Many of the 61 Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence Were Native Texans?

King was born in New York City into a poor Irish family. He was indentured as an apprentice to a jeweler in Manhattan at the age of nine. At the age of 11 he fled the city and stowed away on a ship bound for Mobile, Alabama. Upon discovery, he was adopted by the crew and trained in navigation, becoming a steamboat pilot by the age of sixteen. By 1850 he was a steamboat captain and had formed a steamboat firm with three other partners. This firm achieved "nearly monopolistic" control on the Rio … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know What Richard King’s Occupation was Prior to Owning the King Ranch?

George Bush was first elected to United States House of Representatives seat from 7TH District of Texas in 1966. He defeated Democrat Frank Briscoe with 57% of the vote, becoming the first Republican to represent Houston. Bush’s representative district included Tanglewood, the Houston neighborhood that was his residence. His voting record in the House was generally conservative. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know What First Public Office George Bush Was Elected to?

The first 48-star U.S. flag was flown in Fort Bliss, Texas in October 1911, even though Arizona was not officially admitted to the Union as the 48TH state until February 14, 1912.  Arizona was the last of the contiguous states to be admitted to the Union. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know Where the First 48-Star U.S. Flag Was Flown?

Humble Oil and Refining Company was founded by Ross S. Sterling who served a single two-year term between January 20, 1931 and January 17, 1933, as the 31ST Governor of Texas. A Democrat, Sterling defeated former Governor Miriam "Ma" Ferguson and several other candidates in the 1930 primary race for governor. During his term in office the East Texas oil fields experienced rapid and uncontrolled development. … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know Which Texas Governor Was Founder of Humble Oil and Refining Company?

William "Billy" Dixon scouted the Texas Panhandle for the Army and hunted buffalo for the train companies. Dixon led the founders of Adobe Walls to the Texas Plains, where he knew buffalo were in abundance. The group of 28 men and one woman occupied the outpost of five buildings 15 miles northeast of Stinnett. The outpost was attacked on June 27, 1874, by a band of 700 to 1200 Indians, and that is when Dixon went into the history books for firing "The Shot of the Century" which effectively ended … [Read more...] about Texas History – Do You Know What Honor Was Bestowed Upon Scout Bill Dixon after the Battle of Buffalo Wallow?