Seguín, Juan Nepomuceno

Seguín, Juan Nepomuceno,

1806–90, Texas revolutionary and politician, b. San Antonio. He was elected alderman (1829) and mayor (1833) of San Antonio, then formed a militia (1835) to aid the Mexican governor of Texas against President Santa AnnaSanta Anna, Antonio López de
, 1794–1876, Mexican general and politician. He fought in the royalist army, but later joined Iturbide in the struggle that won independence for Mexico (1821). Santa Anna then entered upon a long and tortuous political career.
..... Click the link for more information. . Seguín soon became involved in the Texas revolution and served at the AlamoAlamo, the
[Span.,=cottonwood], building in San Antonio, Tex., "the cradle of Texas liberty." Built as a chapel after 1744, it is all that remains of the mission of San Antonio de Valero, which was founded in 1718 by Franciscans and later converted into a fortress.
..... Click the link for more information. , where he was dispatched for reinforcements. After the battle of Gonzales (1835) Seguín was commissioned a captain by Stephen F. AustinAustin, Stephen Fuller,
1793–1836, American leader of colonization in Texas, known as the Father of Texas, b. Wythe co., Va.; son of Moses Austin. He grew up in Missouri, studied at Transylvania Univ.
..... Click the link for more information. . He fought in the battle of San Jacinto (1836) and accepted the surrender of San Antonio (1836), after which he was military commander (1836–37) there. He served (1837–40) in the Texas senate, where he lobbied to have the republic's laws printed in Spanish, and was again mayor (1840–42) of San Antonio. Troubles with Anglo-Americans led him to leave for Mexico, where he was coerced into joining the army and fought against the United States during the Mexican WarMexican War,
1846–48, armed conflict between the United States and Mexico. Causes

While the immediate cause of the war was the U.S. annexation of Texas (Dec., 1845), other factors had disturbed peaceful relations between the two republics.
..... Click the link for more information. . He returned to Texas in 1848, but later retired to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

Bibliography

See his memoirs and selected correspondence ed. by J. F. de la Teja (1991).