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List of Texas governors and presidents facts for kids

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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:

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 [es] 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.

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