Jose Antonio Navarro (February 27, 1795 - January 13, 1871) was a Texas statesman, revolutionary, and politician. The son of Angel Navarro and Josefa Maria Ruiz, he was born into a distinguished noble family at San Antonio de Bexar. Navarro County, Texas is named in his honor.

Texas Politician

Navarro developed a lengthy friendship with Stephen F. Austin and served as a leader in the Texas Revolution. During the 1830's Navarro represented Texas in the legislature of Coahuila y Tejas and in the federal Congress in Mexico City. He signed the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836 and became a member of the Republic of Texas Congress from Bexar County, Texas. Navarro participated in the failed Santa Fe Expedition of President Mirabeau B. Lamar and was briefly imprisoned there before escaping to Texas. In 1845 Navarro was instrumental in drafting the first State Constitution of Texas. He was twice elected to the Texas State Senate before retiring from politics in 1849.

In his retirement Navarro wrote several historical and political essays about Texas and San Antonio's role in the Mexican Independence movement for the San Antonio Ledger .

American Civil War

In 1861 Navarro espoused Texas' secession from the United States. Four of Navarro's children served in the army of the Confederate States of America between 1861 and 1865. The Navarro family was one of the most prominent Hispanic supporters of the Confederacy.

External Links

• Jose Antonio Navarro in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas