List of Texas governors and presidents facts for kids
Texas has a long and interesting history, and it has been led by many different people! Since 1691, Texas has had leaders called governors and presidents. These leaders served under several different flags:
- (New) Spain (governors, 1691–1821)
- Mexico (governors, 1821–1836)
- Republic of Texas (presidents, 1836–1846)
- United States of America (governors, 1846–1861 and 1865–present)
- Confederate States of America (governors, 1861–1865)
Contents
Spanish Texas: Early Leaders (1691-1821)
From 1691 to 1821, the area known as Texas was part of New Spain. This was a huge territory controlled by Spain in the Americas. During this time, Texas was often called the "Kingdom of Texas."
Governors of Coahuila and Texas (1691-1722)
For a period, Texas and Coahuila (a region in modern-day Mexico) shared the same government. Even though they were separate areas, they had one governor. The main government office was in Monclova, Coahuila.
| Governor | Took office | Left office | Notes |
| Domingo Terán de los Ríos | January 23, 1691 | March 5, 1692 | The first official governor of this combined region. |
| Gregorio de Salinas Varona | 1692 | 1697 (Texas) / 1698 (Coahuila) | An official governor. |
| Francisco Cuervo y Valdés | 1698 | 1702 (Texas) / 1703 (Coahuila) | An official governor. |
| Matías de Aguirre | 1703 | 1705 | |
| Martín de Alarcón (1st term) | 1705 | 1708 | An official governor and founder of San Antonio. |
| Simón Padilla y Córdova | 1708 | 1712 | |
| Pedro Fermín de Echevers y Subisa | 1712 | 1714 | |
| Juan Valdez | 1714 | 1716 | An official governor. |
| José Antonio de Eca y Múzquiz | 1716 | 1717 | An official governor. |
| Martín de Alarcón (2nd term) | 1717 | 1719 | Served a second time. |
| José de Azlor y Virto de Vera | 1719 | 1722 | An official governor. |
Governors of the Province of Texas (1722-1823)
From 1722 onward, Texas had its own governors. The first capital was Los Adaes, from 1729 to 1772. Later, in 1768, the government moved to San Antonio. San Antonio then became the capital of Texas until 1823.
| Governor | Took office | Left office | Notes |
| Fernando Pérez de Almazán | 1722 | 1727 | An official governor. |
| Melchor de Mediavilla y Azcona | 1727 | 1730 | Served as an acting governor. |
| Juan Antonio Bustillo y Ceballos | 1730 | 1734 | An official governor. |
| Manuel de Sandoval | 1734 | 1736 | An official governor. |
| Carlos Benites Franquis de Lugo | 1736 | 1737 | An official governor. |
| Prudencio de Orobio y Basterra | 1737 | 1741 | Served as an interim governor. |
| Tomás Felipe de Winthuisen | 1741 | 1743 | An official governor. |
| Justo Boneo y Morales | 1743 | 1744 | An official governor. |
| Francisco García Larios | 1744 | 1748 | Served as an interim governor. |
| Pedro del Barrio Junco y Espriella | 1748 | 1751 | Served as an acting governor. |
| Jacinto de Barrios y Jáuregui | 1751 | 1759 | An official governor. |
| Ángel de Martos y Navarrete | 1759 | 1766 | An official governor. |
| Hugo Oconór | 1767 | 1770 | An official governor. |
| Juan María Vicencio | 1770 | 1778 | An official governor. |
| Domingo Cabello y Robles | 1778 | 1786 | Served as an interim governor. |
| Bernardo Bonavía y Zapata | 1786 | 1786 | Appointed governor but did not serve. |
| Rafael Martínez Pacheco | 1786 | 1790 | An official governor. |
| Manuel Muñoz | 1790 | 1798 | An official governor. |
| José Irigoyen | 1798 | 1800 | Appointed governor but did not serve. |
| Juan Bautista Elguézabal | 1800 | 1805 | Served as an interim governor. He helped start the first elementary schools in Texas. |
| Manuel Antonio Cordero y Bustamante | 1805 | 1808 | Served as an acting governor. |
| Manuel María de Salcedo | 1808 | 1811 (officially until 1813) | An official governor. |
| Juan Bautista de las Casas | 1811 | 1811 | Led a short takeover against Salcedo. |
| Simón de Herrera | 1811 | 1811 | Served as an interim governor. |
| Manuel María de Salcedo (2nd term) | 1811 | 1813 | Returned to office after a brief interruption. He died while in office. |
| Cristóbal Domínguez | 1814 | 1814 | An official governor. He died while in office. |
| Benito Armiñán | 1814 | 1815 | Served as an interim governor. He left due to health reasons. |
| Mariano Valera | 1815 | 1816 | Served as an interim governor. He left due to health reasons. |
| Juan Ignacio Pérez | 1816 | 1817 | Served as an interim governor. |
| Manuel Pardo | 1817 | 1817 | Served as an interim governor. |
| Antonio María Martínez | 1817 | 1821 | The last official Spanish governor of Texas. |
Mexican Texas: A New Era (1821-1836)
After Mexico won its independence from Spain, Texas became part of the new First Mexican Empire. This was a big change for the region.
Governors of the Province of Texas (1822-1823)
For a short time, Texas continued as a province under Mexico.
| Governor | Took office | Left office | Notes |
| José Félix Trespalacios | August 1822 | April 1823 | |
| Luciano García | June 16, 1823 | October 12, 1823 | He helped found San Felipe de Austin. |
Governors of Coahuila y Texas (1824-1835)
After the Mexican Empire ended, Texas joined with Coahuila again. They formed a new state called Coahuila and Texas. This was part of the United Mexican States. The capital moved between Saltillo and Monclova in Coahuila.
| Governor | Took office | Left office | Notes |
| Rafael Gonzales | 1824-02-03 | 1826-03-15 | |
| José Ignacio de Arizpe (1st term) | 1826-03-15 | 1826-05-30 | |
| Víctor Blanco de Rivera (1st term) | 1826-05-30 | 1827-01-29 | |
| José Ignacio de Arizpe (2nd term) | 1827-01-29 | 1827-08-01 | |
| José María Viesca (1st) | 1827-08-01 | 1827-08-17 | |
| Víctor Blanco de Rivera (2nd term) | 1827-08-17 | 1827-09-14 | |
| José María Viesca (2nd) | 1827-09-14 | 1830-10-01 | |
| José Rafael Eça y Múzquiz (1st term) | 1830-10-01 | 1831-01-05 | |
| José María Viesca (3rd) | 1831-01-05 | 1831-04-04 | |
| José María de Letona (1st term) | 1831-04-05 | 1831-04-28 | |
| José Rafael Eça y Múzquiz (2nd term) | 1831-04-28 | 1831-05-10 | |
| José María de Letona (2nd term) | 1831-05-10 | 1832-09-28 | |
| José Rafael Eça y Múzquiz (3rd) | 1832-09-29 | 1832-12-23 | |
| Juan Martín de Veramendi | 1832-12-24 | 1833-09-07 | |
| N/A | 1833-09-08 | 1834-01-07 | |
| Francisco Vidaurri y Villaseñor | 1834-01-08 | 1834-07-23 | |
| Juan José Elguézabal | 1834-07-23 | 1835-03-12 | |
| José María Cantú | 1835-03-12 | 1835-03-24 | |
| José Rafael Eça y Múzquiz (4th term) | 1835-03-25 | 1835-03-26 | |
| Marciél Borrego | 1835-03-27 | 1835-04-15 | |
| Agustín Viesca | 1835-04-15 | 1835-06-05 | |
| Ramón Músquiz | 1835-06-06 | 1835-07-17 | He was appointed but did not take office. |
| José Miguel Falcón | 1835-07-18 | 1835-08-13 | |
| Bartolomé de Cárdenas | 1835-08-13 | 1835-08-15 | |
| José Rafael Eça y Múzquiz (5th term) | 1835-08-15 | 1835-10-02 (Texas Revolution) | Continued to govern Coahuila after Texas became independent. |
Texas Revolution: The Fight for Independence (1835-1836)
During the Texas Revolution, Texans decided to break away from Mexico. They formed a temporary government while they fought for their freedom. The capital of this new government was in San Felipe de Austin.
| President | Took office | Left office | Notes |
| Henry Smith | 1835 | 1836-01-11 | He was removed from office. |
| James W. Robinson | 1836-01-11 | 1836-03-02 |
Republic of Texas: An Independent Nation (1836-1846)
After winning independence, Texas became its own country, the Republic of Texas. It had its own presidents, just like the United States.
| President | Took office | Left office | Notes |
| David G. Burnet | 1836 | 1836 | Served as acting president. |
| Sam Houston | 1836 | 1838 | A very famous leader, often called the first President of the Republic of Texas. |
| Mirabeau B. Lamar | 1838 | 1841 | |
| Sam Houston | 1841 | 1844 | Served a second term as president. |
| Anson Jones | 1844 | 1846 | The last president of the Republic of Texas. |
State of Texas: Joining the United States
After 1846, Texas joined the United States of America and became a state. From then on, Texas has had governors, not presidents. To learn more about these leaders, you can visit the main article: List of governors of Texas.
