Timeline of the Republic of Texas

For earlier events related to this, see Timeline of the Texas Revolution.

This is a timeline of the Republic of Texas, spanning the time from the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836 up to the transfer of power to the State of Texas on February 19, 1846.

1836

Texas Declares Independence

• 1836 March 2 – The Texas Declaration of Independence is signed and the Republic of Texas is declared. David G. Burnet is elected interim president by the delegates. Texans defeated at the Battle of Agua Dulce.
• 1836 March 3 – James B. Bonham arrives back at the Alamo telling Lt. Col. William B. Travis that Col. James Fannin was not coming.
• 1836 March 4 – Santa Anna holds a council of war with Generals Joaquín Ramírez y Sesma, Martín Perfecto de Cos, Manuel F. Castrillón and Colonels Juan Almonte, Agustín Amat, Francisco Duque and Manuel Romero to plan the final assault. Sam Houston is appointed commander of Texas forces.
• 1836 March 6 – Battle of the Alamo: the Alamo falls. Approximately 190-250 Texians and Tejanos die. The thirteen-day siege resulted in the deaths of all of its defenders, including William B. Travis, Davy Crockett, and Jim Bowie.
• 1836 March 11 – Houston begins his retreat from Gonzales precipitating the Runaway Scrape.
• 1836 March 12 – Battle of Refugio begins: Texan troops commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Ward and Amos King are attacked by General Urrea. After several hours of fighting, the Texans retreat. King's troops are captured by the Mexicans.
• 1836 March 16 - David G. Burnet becomes interim President of the Republic
• 1836 March 19 – Battle of Coleto: General Urrea defeats Colonel James Fannin near Goliad. Fannin surrenders.
• 1836 March 21 – Battle of Copano.
• 1836 March 27 – Goliad Massacre: James Fannin and nearly 400 Texans are executed by order of Santa Anna. Houston and his army camp near San Felipe de Austin.
• 1836 April 21 – Battle of San Jacinto: Texan army under Sam Houston overwhelmingly defeats Mexican force under Santa Anna, securing Texas independence. Santa Anna captured.
• 1836 May 14 – Treaties of Velasco signed by Republic of Texas officials and General Santa Anna ending the Texas Revolution.
• 1836 October 22 - Sam Houston becomes President of the Republic.

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1838

• 1838 December 10 - Mirabeau B. Lamar becomes President of the Republic.

1839

• 1839 - The Capital of the Republic is moved from Houston to Austin.

1840

• 1840 March 19: Council House Fight

1841

• 1841 June - 321 men under Hugh McLeod and George Thomas Howard at the behest of Governor Mirabeau B. Lamar began an invasion of Santa Fe. After confusing the Wichita River for the Red River they arrived on October 5 near present day Tucumcari, New Mexico, were captured without firing a shot and were marched to prison at the San Carlos Fortress in Perote, Veracruz before ultimately being released in June 1842. The disgrace was to lead to the return of Sam Houston.
• 1841 December 13 - Sam Houston becomes President of the Republic.

1842

• 1842 March - A division of the Mexican Army invades Texas and captures San Antonio and Goliad only to withdraw a few days later.
• 1842 September 18 - 36 Texans are surrounded and killed by the Mexican Army in the Dawson Massacre.
• 1842 December 26 - 261 Texans are taken prisoner in the failed Mier Expedition
• 1842 December 29 - Agents for Sam Houston attempt to steal government records in Austin and move them to Houston in the Texas Archive War.

1843

• 1843, March 25 - 17 Texans from the Mier Expedition are executed by firing squad for attempting escape.

1844

• 1844 September 16 - All Texas prisoners are released by Mexico on order from Santa Anna.
• 1844 December 9 - Anson Jones becomes President of the Republic.

1845

• 1845 February 28 - The United States Congress passed a bill that would authorize the United States to annex the Republic of Texas.
• 1845 March 1 - U.S. President John Tyler signed the authorization bill.
• 1845 October 13 - A majority of voters in the Republic approved a proposed state constitution
• 1845 December 29 - Annexation of the Republic of Texas by the United States of America.

1846

• 1846 February 19 - Transfer of power to the State of Texas