Texas Founding Father

In 1842, the Texas Revolution was a thing of the past. The Texians and Tejanos had won their independence from Mexico. Although Mexico didn't recognize its separation from the Mexican union, this new Republic of Texas was now a reality.

But, also in 1842, about 800 miles away, one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence was rotting in a Mexican prison. Again, the Texas patriot would encounter malnutrition, torture, and the humiliation of imprisonment. This man was considered a traitor in Mexico and faced a death sentence.

History remembers this man by his birth name - José Antonio Navarro.

Don Antonio had been captured in New Mexico, briefly jailed, and then transferred to San Juan de Ulloa Prison in Vera Cruz. This prison was known to be dreary and damp and had the worst reputation of all the jails in Mexico. There, he spent many days in solitary confinement and was sentenced to be executed. By this time, José Antonio had lost weight, become weak, hungry, depressed, and utterly lost and forgotten. Physically and mentally, he was barely hanging on.

About three months into his incarceration, his jailer informed him that the president of Mexico, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, was on his way to see him. The President of Mexico knew precisely who his prisoner was. Santa Anna had José Antonio transferred to the worst Mexican dungeon, and he did it with extreme prejudice. Santa Anna did not like Antonio at all for several reasons.

First, before the Texas Revolution, José Antonio served in the Mexican Government and knew Santa Anna personally. Second, when Santa Anna was a young lieutenant stationed in San Antonio during the Battle of Medina campaign, he met José Antonio's sister and fell in love with her. Third, one evening, in full Class-A uniform, Lt. Santa Anna, escorted by two sentries, met with the Navarro family for dinner. In front of all the Navarros, Lt. Santa Anna stood up and asked the family for her hand in marriage. The Navarro men excused themselves, entered the jury room, came out five minutes later, and announced, "No, Sir, we don't think so." The young lieutenant kicked a chair out of the way and left with his guards. Third, there's that whole Texas Rebellion thing.

But now, Santa Anna could exact his revenge on this personal, political nemesis.

When the dictator finally arrived that afternoon, he ordered the door unlocked, walked in with two guards, looked intently at his prisoner, and said, "I need you to recant and pledge allegiance in writing to the Mexican State and denounce the Republic of Texas." If you do that, I will release you and give you a permanent position in my government. I will not ask twice. If you refuse, you will be executed as a traitor." Without hesitation, José Antonio Navarro replied with his now-famous, "I will never forsake Texas and her cause – I am her son!"

José Antonio Navarro was born on February 27, 1795, in San Antonio de Béxar, New Spain, to a prominent Spanish family. His mother was of aristocratic descent, and his father, Angel Navarro, was a self-made man who had journeyed from Corsica in the Mediterranean to the Americas. Initially, Angel Navarro arrives as a runaway and becomes a servant. Later, Angel would eventually become a successful merchant and alcalde (mayor) of San Antonio de Béxar.

After marrying Maria Josepha Ruiz y Pena, Angel Navarro relocated to San Antonio de Béxar, where he established a store and began a family that would eventually include twelve children. José Antonio Navarro was the eighth of these children. At ten, Antonio was sent to Saltillo, Coahuila, to attend a good school. Still, when his father died three years later, Antonio was forced to return to San Antonio. He never received any more formal education.

As a young adult, José Antonio stood just shy of six feet. He was muscular, a great marksman, and a superb horseman - even though he walked with a limp from a childhood horseback-riding accident. However, José Antonio was also a quiet, modest, serious young man who took his fashion seriously and usually wore white clothing. Hence, his brothers gave him the nickname "La Paloma Blanca."  In his free time, he studied law books and developed an extensive knowledge of Spanish and, later, Mexican law.

In 1813, the teenage Navarro witnessed the brutal execution of some Spanish soldiers that the rebels had taken prisoner. This event horrified him despite his admiration for the freedom fighters. Soon, Spain sent a larger army to defeat the rebels at the Battle of Medina. Navarro was forced to flee to the United States with his brothers and uncle Francisco Ruiz. After spending three years in Louisiana, Navarro returned to San Antonio de Béxar to establish himself as a merchant.

As a native Texan, he envisioned Texas's future as Stephen F. Austin did. History remembers that José Antonio and Austin were best friends who shared a vision of Texas and developed a steady, long-lasting friendship throughout their lives.

History remembers that José Antonio Navarro and his close friend Stephen F. Austin worked together to establish the new state of Texas.

Through his political connections, Navarro worked with the period's impresarios and facilitated Stephen F. Austin's acquisition of contracts to bring American settlers into Spanish Texas. José Antonio was instrumental in helping Austin secure the introduction of the first American settlers in Texas. Antonio became a land commissioner for Dewitt's Colony and soon after for the Béxar District.

When "Coahuila y Texas" became a state in 1824, Navarro was elected to the legislature, where he was a fierce champion of the liberal Federal Constitution of 1824 and of the state's development through colonization. In 1825, José Antonio married the beautiful Señorita Margarita de la Garza, and they raised seven children.

During the early 1830s, Navarro represented Texas in the State of Coahuila, the Texas legislature, and the federal Congress in Mexico City. Always a champion of democratic ideas, Navarro, collaborating with Austin, worked to pass legislation that would best benefit the people of Texas.

José Antonio later served as a leader in the Texas Revolution. He endangered his life, serving as Texas's main revolutionary adversary to Santa Anna. Navarro served the Texas cause with his name, resources, finances, and hard work. At the Convention for Texas Independence, he received the sad news of the Alamo's fall from his friend, Captain Juan Seguin.

With the death of James Bowie (his nephew by marriage), José Antonio had to secure the safe release of the two Navarro girls who survived the battle. These young ladies were Señorita Juanita and Señorita Gertrudis, accompanied by their baby, Alejo. The Mexicans were holding them at the Músquiz house after the fight. Finally, the girls were removed from the Navarro family home for safety.

José Antonio Navarro was one of the first signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence in early March 1836 in Washington-on-the-Brazos. He later signed the Constitution of the Republic of Texas.

In 1841, Navarro reluctantly participated in the ill-conceived Texan Santa Fe Expedition, sent by President Mirabeau B. Lamar, to persuade the residents of New Mexico to secede from Mexico and join Texas. He was captured, put on trial, sentenced to death, and imprisoned for years. He eventually escaped with the help of sympathetic Mexican Army officials, sailing back to Texas.

José Antonio Navarro was the most influential Tejano of his generation. He became the leading Mexican participant on Texas's side in the Texas Revolution and the subsequent development of the Republic of Texas and, later, the State of Texas.

His uncle was José Francisco Ruiz, and his brother-in-law was Juan Martín de Veramendi. His son José Ángel Navarro III served three terms in the Texas Legislature.

History remembers that José Antonio Navarro was among the truest of all Texans.

José Antonio Navarro was a true Patriot of our Texas Revolution.

This post is dedicated to all José Antonio Navarro's descendants living today in Texas and around the world who continue to carry the torch handed down to them by José Antonio Navarro, Texas patriot of our past, to the benefit of this great state, Texas.

And, Thank You, Don José Antonio Navarro, for your service, deeds of bravery, and heroic devotion to our country — Texas!

Texas Heroes - Never Forget!

Sources:
The Handbook of Texas Online; José Antonio Navarro
TSLAC Giants of Texas History
DeWitt Colony, Sons of DeWitt Colony – José Antonio Navarro
José Antonio Navarro: Wikipedia
José Antonio Navarro | Encyclopedia.com.https://www.encyclopedia.com/.../jose-antonio-navarroo