James Walker Fannin, Jr. (January 1, 1804?-March 27, 1836) was a prominent figure during the Texas Revolution.

Born in Georgia in 1804, Fannin joined the United States Military Academy in 1819 but withdrew prior to graduation. In 1834, Fannin settled at Velasco in Texas where he apparently was a plantation owner.

By 1835, Fannin was becoming part of the growing resistance to the Mexican government in Texas. He wrote letters seeking financial assistance and volunteers to help the Texas cause. By September, Fannin was an active volunteer in the Texas Army. He participated in the Battle of Gonzales on October 2 and urged Stephen F. Austin to send aid to Gonzales. Fannin later worked with James Bowie under Austin's orders to secure supplies and determine the conditions in and around Gonzales and San Antonio de Bexar. Fannin also participated in the Battle of Concepción on October 28.

In November, Fannin was honorably discharged from the volunteer army and began campaigning for a larger regular army for Texas. Sam Houston commissioned Fannin as a colonel in the regular army on December 7 and Fannin began recruiting forces and supplies for the forthcoming campaign against the Mexican Army. However, Fannin had difficulty leading the volunteer armies he was place in charge of, most likely due to his acclamation to the training and regiment of a regular army - something he was not able to receive from an army of irregular volunteers. Many of his men felt he was aloof and several historians believe that he was an ineffective commander because of it.

In February and March of 1836, Fannin began strengthening defenses at Goliad, which fell under attack by mid-March, removing all hope of being able to relieve the surrounded forces at the Battle of the Alamo. On March 12, Fannin sent his forces to relieve Texans under attack near Refugio but was ordered by Houston to retreat to Victoria two days later. On March 19, Fannin began his retreat, but were surrounded by Mexican troops and forced to surrender at the Battle of Coleto. The Texans were imprisoned and executed by order of General Santa Anna on March 27.

Fannin County, Texas and Fannin County, Georgia are named in his honor.

External link

• James Walker Fannin, Jr. at the Handbook of Texas Online