Texas has had chief executives with the titles of governors and presidents since 1691. These were under the flags of:
(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)
Spanish Texas From 1691 through 1821, the Kingdom of Texas (El Reino de Texas, in modern Spanish, Tejas) was a part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (El Virreinato de Nueva España).
Governors of the province of Nueva Extremadura (Coahuila and Texas) From 1691 to 1722, present-day Texas and Coahuila formed the province of Nueva Extremadura. The official seat of government was in Monclova, in present-day Coahuila.Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico.
Governor Took office Left office NotesDomingo Terán de los RíosJanuary 23, 1691March 5, 1692Official governor; previously served as governor of Sonora y Sinaloa (1681–1686), New Spain.Gregorio de Salinas Varona16921697 (Texas) / 1698 (Coahuila)Official governor; subsequently governed Nuevo León (1705–1707) and Honduras (1705–1709).Francisco Cuervo y Valdés1698 1702 (Texas) / 1703 (Coahuila)Official governor; previously governed Nuevo León (1687–1688), then Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico (1705–1707) subsequently.Matías de Aguirre17031705Martín de Alarcón (1st term)17051708Official governor; also founder of San Antonio.Simón Padilla y Córdova17081712Pedro Fermín de Echevers y Subisa17121714Juan Valdez17141716Official governor.José Antonio de Ecay y Múzquiz 17161717Official governor.Martín de Alarcón (2nd term)17171719Official governor.José de Azlor y Virto de Vera17191722Official governor.
Province of Texas From 1722 to 1823 Texas was an independent province and had its own governors. From 1722 to 1768 the seat of government of Texas was in Los Adaes and this was the official capital of the province from 1729 to 1772. In 1768 the seat of government was established in San Antonio, which was the capital of Texas from 1772 to 1823.
Governor Took office Left office NotesFernando Pérez de Almazán17221727Official governorMelchor de Mediavilla y Azcona17271730Acting and Interim governorJuan Antonio Bustillo y Ceballos17301734Official governor; He was also governor of Coahuila (1754–1756)Manuel de Sandoval17341736Official governor; He also served as governor of Coahuila (1729–1733)Carlos Benites Franquis de Lugo17361737Official governorPrudencio de Orobio y Basterra17371741Interim governor; He and Winthuisen were the only civilians that served as governors of Spanish TexasTomás Felipe de Winthuisen17411743Official governorJusto Boneo y Morales17431744Official governorFrancisco García Larios17441748Interim governorPedro del Barrio Junco y Espriella17481751Acting governor; He also governed Nuevo León, in modern-day MexicoJacinto de Barrios y Jáuregui17511759Official governor; Also was governor of Coahuila (1759–1762; 1765–1768)Ángel de Martos y Navarrete17591766Official governorHugo Oconór17671770Official governorJuan María Vicencio17701778Official governor; He also governed HondurasDomingo Cabello y Robles17781786Interim governor; He also governed Nicaragua and CubaBernardo Bonavía y Zapata17861786Official governor; He was appointed governor but don't serve in office.Rafael Martínez Pacheco17861790Official governorManuel Muñoz17901798Official governorJosé Irigoyen17981800Interim governor; Although he was appointed as governor, he not served in office.Juan Bautista Elguézabal18001805Interim governor; He promoted the founding of the first elementary schools in TexasManuel Antonio Cordero y Bustamante18051808Acting governor; Also governed Coahuila and SonoraManuel María de Salcedo18081811 (officially until 1813)Official governor; Temporarily deposed by de las Casas Juan Bautista de las Casas18111811Led a coup against Salcedo and became governor for 39 days before being arrested.Simón de Herrera18111811Ad interim governor July to DecemberHarris Gaylord Warren and Jack D. L. Homes, "HERRERA, SIMON DE," Handbook of Texas Online Manuel María de Salcedo (2nd term)18111813Official governor; Continuation of your government after the temporary administration by De Casas and Herrera; dead in officeCristóbal Domínguez18141814Official governor; dead in officeBenito Armiñán18141815Interim governor (October 1814 – July 1815). He left the charge for health reasonsMariano Valera18151816Interim governor (July 20, 1815 – July 27, 1816). He left the charge for health reasonsJuan Ignacio Pérez18161817Interim governor (July 27, 1816 – March 20, 1817)Manuel Pardo18171817Interim governor (March 20, 1817 – May 27, 1817); Also was governor of Coahuila (1819–20)Antonio María Martínez18171821Official governor
Mexican Texas Province of Texas Following the Mexican War of Independence, recognised by the Treaty of Córdoba, the territory of Texas became part of the First Mexican Empire.
Governor Took office Left office NotesJosé Félix TrespalaciosAugust 1822April 1823Luciano GarcíaJune 16, 1823 October 12, 1823He founded, toponymically, San Felipe de Austin.
State of Coahuila y Texas After the dissolution of the first Mexican empire, the Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1824 came into force, by which Texas joined Coahuila, forming the state of Coahuila and Texas, part of the United Mexican States. From 1823 to 1833 the capital and official seat of government was in Saltillo, Coahuila, while that from March 1833 until 1836, when Texas gained its independence from Mexico, the capital of the state was in Monclova, Coahuila.
Governor Took office Left office NotesRafael Gonzales1824-02-03 1826-03-15José Ignacio de Arizpe (1st term)1826-03-151826-05-30 Víctor Blanco de Rivera (1st term)1826-05-301827-01-29 José Ignacio de Arizpe (2nd term)1827-01-29 1827-08-01José María Viesca (1st)1827-08-011827-08-17Víctor Blanco de Rivera (2nd term)1827-08-171827-09-14José María Viesca (2nd)1827-09-141830-10-01José Rafael Eça y Múzquiz (1st term)1830-10-011831-01-05José María Viesca (3rd)1831-01-051831-04-04José María de Letona (1st term)1831-04-051831-04-28José Rafael Eça y Múzquiz (2nd term)1831-04-28 1831-05-10José María de Letona (2nd term)1831-05-101832-09-28 José Rafael Eça y Múzquiz (3rd) 1832-09-29 1832-12-23Juan Martín de Veramendi1832-12-24 1833-09-07 N/A 1833-09-081834-01-07Francisco Vidaurri y Villaseñor1834-01-08 1834-07-23Juan José Elguézabal1834-07-23 1835-03-12José María Cantú1835-03-121835-03-24José Rafael Eça y Múzquiz (4th term)1835-03-251835-03-26Marciél Borrego1835-03-271835-04-15Agustín Viesca1835-04-15 1835-06-05 Ramón Músquiz1835-06-061835-07-17Never took office and resigned in July of that year. José Miguel Falcón 1835-07-181835-08-13 Bartolomé de Cárdenas 1835-08-131835-08-15José Rafael Eça y Múzquiz (5th term)1835-08-151835-10-02 (Texas Revolution)After the Texas' independence, Músquiz continued to govern Coahuila until 1837
Texas Revolution During the Texas Revolution, the Consultation declared independence from Mexico. An interim government was formed pending elections. The capital of the American colony of Texas was established in San Felipe de Austin.
President Took office Left office NotesHenry Smith18351836-01-11Impeached.James W. Robinson1836-01-111836-03-02
Republic of Texas President Took office Left office NotesDavid G. Burnet18361836Burnet County; (acting) Vice-president of Texas under Lamar, U.S. Senator-Elect 1866.Sam Houston18361838Houston; Houston County; also served as Governor and U.S. Senator, and formerly in Tennessee as Governor and U.S. Representative. Referred to as the first President of the Republic of Texas.Mirabeau B. Lamar18381841Lamar County; Minister to Nicaragua.Sam Houston18411844Houston; Houston County; also served as U.S. Representative and Governor for Tennessee, and as Governor and U.S. Senator for Texas.Anson Jones18441846 Jones County.
State of Texas See: List of governors of Texas
Notes
References
Texas State Library & Archives Commission Web Site