Lorenzo de Zavala
Lorenzo de Zavala | |
---|---|
Yucatán in the Congress of Deputies of Spain | |
In office 1820–1822 | |
Personal details | |
Born | October 3, 1788 Viceroyalty of New Spain |
Died | November 15, 1836 Channelview, Republic of Texas | (aged 48)
Manuel Lorenzo Justiniano de Zavala y Sánchez (October 3, 1788 – November 15, 1836), known simply as Lorenzo de Zavala, was a Mexican and later
Zavala was one of the most prominent liberals in the era of the First Republic.[4] Since his youth, Zavala was an indefatigable believer in the principle of democratic representative government.[5] As a young man he founded several newspapers and wrote extensively, espousing democratic reforms — writings which led to his imprisonment by the Spanish crown. While imprisoned, he learned English and studied medicine; after his release, he practiced medicine for two years before entering politics.[1]
Over his career, he served in many different capacities including the Spanish Cortes (legislature) in Madrid representing Yucatán, and in Mexico's Senate.[3] He became Mexico's Minister of Finance and served as Ambassador to France and Governor of the State of Mexico.[1] In 1829, a conservative coup brought Anastasio Bustamante to power, and Zavala was forced into exile, moving to the United States for two years. He wrote a book about U.S. political culture during this time and also traveled extensively in Europe. With his diplomatic experience and linguistic skills, Zavala was well received by foreign governments.[6]
In 1832, a liberal coup brought
Zavala's legacy in Mexico remains controversial with historians recognizing his political and intellectual work, his important role in the early history of the nation, while still branding him a traitor for helping the Texans secede from Mexico. Conversely, Texans consider him a
are named in his honor, as well as many schools and public buildings including the Texas State Archives and Library Building in Austin.Early life and education
Zavala was born on October 3, 1788, in the town of
Zavala was educated in Mérida, Yucatán's provincial capital, in the Tridentine Seminary of San Ildefonso.[8] There he studied the standard curriculum of Latin, morals, scholastic theology, and classical philosophy. After graduation, he founded a newspaper called The Universal Critic (El Aristarco Universal) and wrote for several newspapers in which he espoused democratic ideas that would remain the pillars of his later political career.[11][8] His writings were critical of the Spanish officials, and he was imprisoned at age 26 for three years by the Spanish Crown (1814-1817).[11] While incarcerated, Zavala learned the English language and studied medical textbooks to an extent that qualified him to practice medicine upon his release. He practiced medicine for two years, then political events compelled him to return to politics.[7]
Career
Zavala began his political career becoming secretary of the local government of his home state of Yucatán, which created opportunities leading to his later election to the Cortes (legislature) in Madrid representing Yucatán as its governor. After México won independence from Spain in 1821, Zavala resigned his position in Madrid and returned to Mexico, where he was elected to the newly formed national congress, again representing Yucatán. Zavala became part of a group to draft the constitution of the Federal Republic of Mexico. In 1824, he was elected as President of the Constituent Congress and was the first to sign the Mexican Federal Constitution of 1824.[12] He served in the Mexican Senate from 1824 to 1826.[3] He was appointed Minister of Finance in 1829, but served only 6 months before the government was overthrown and Zavala was placed under house arrest. He fled to the United States entering a self-imposed exile.
Exile
During his exile Zavala, ever the scholar, wrote a book called Journey to the United States of North America, a travel narrative similar to
Renunciation of President López de Santa Anna
His exile ended in 1832 when he returned to Mexico to serve as governor of the
Move to Texas
He arrived in Texas in 1835 by steamboat near the mouth of the Brazos River and briefly shared a house with his good friend Stephen F. Austin who would later be called "the Father of Texas".[15] Other than Austin, the only other Texan he knew before arriving was David G. Burnet who later became Interim President of Texas.[11] Zavala had known Burnet in New York. Both men had been given Empresario Grants in prior years.[8] These grants were designed by the Mexican Government to encourage new settlers to come to Texas from around the world, the hope being to create a buffer zone between Mexico and the U.S. and also to help deal with the hostile Indians in the region.[16] The owner of a grant was given immense tracts of Texas land in exchange for recruiting and being responsible for a certain quota of new settlers—in Zavala's case, 500 families.[8] Zavala and Burnet had sold their grants to groups of investors in New York.[17]
The previous summer, Zavala had bought a home on 177 acres (equal to one
At this point, Zavala's hope was to overthrow the existing Mexican government and restore Mexico to a democracy and to have Texas be one of the Mexican states.[7] Before long, he realized that this was not going to happen. A pragmatic realist, he gradually changed his viewpoint and began advocating for Texas independence from Mexico.[18] Despite orders from López de Santa Anna for Zavala to be captured and deported from Texas, Zavala was never in real danger—he had become a valuable ally with influential Texans seeking independence.[7] His legislative experience, linguistic skills, and diplomatic experience made him ideally suited for drafting the new Constitution of the Republic of Texas, not to mention that he was the only one among them with actual experience in drafting such a document.[11]
In March 1836, a meeting of delegates was held in a Texas settlement known as "
A few months after this, Zavala's health began to fail. He resigned his office of vice president and returned home. Less than a month after his resignation, he was boating in Buffalo Bayou when his rowboat overturned and he was chilled. Zavala developed pneumonia and died at his home on November 15, 1836. He was buried in a small cemetery plot at his home.[8] The grave was later moved to the San Jacinto Battleground Park.
Personal life
In 1807 Zavala married Teresa Correa y Corres. They had three children: a son named Lorenzo Jr., a daughter named Manuela, and a daughter who died at age one. Zavala's wife, Teresa, died in the spring of 1831. Zavala remarried while in exile. He married Emily West in New York on November 12, 1831, at the Church of the Transfiguration. To this union was born a son and two daughters. The son Augustine, the eldest, was the father of
Freemasons
Zavala and his friends secretly organized the first
Legacy
Zavala remains a controversial figure in Mexico, with historians generally commending Zavala's liberalism, while denouncing his support of Texan independence as treason.[7][11] Mexican historian Francisco Bulnes characterized Zavala as a traitor, while defending Zavala against the charge that he supported Texan independence for political or financial advantages, arguing that it was his opposition to centralism and especially to Santa Anna that proved the decisive factor.[24] Biographer Francisco Sosa wrote that Zavala ceased to be Mexican when he became a representative for Harrisburg, and that "what he did after [voting for Texan independence] was but a consequence of that step taken in a moment of blindness caused by a political hatred which had hurled him into an abyss."[25] Zavala’s criticisms against Santa Anna were influential for the founders of the Texas Revolution. Texas Revolutionaries used Zavala’s ideas to describe their new nation.[26]
The town of
Texas Historical Commission Sites
In 1936, the Texas Historical Commission acknowledged the 1835 Harrisburg settlement of Lorenzo de Zavalla with a Texas Centennial Marker made of gray granite with a bronze inscription.[30]
In 1968, the Texas Historical Commission established a historical marker at the De Zavala Elementary School in Southeast Houston. The supplemental commemorative plaque preserves an inscription regarding the passage of Texas historical sites at the San Jacinto State Historic Landmark.[31]
Namesakes
Schools
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Baytown, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, San Marcos, Texas
- De Zavala Elementary, Channelview, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Crystal City, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Dallas, Texas
- Zavala Elementary School, El Paso, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Fort Worth, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Grand Prairie, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Harlingen Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Houston, Texas (Magnolia Park neighborhood)
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Midland, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, San Antonio, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School, Amarillo, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School, Irving, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School, La Joya, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Environmental Science Academy, Grand Prairie, Texas
- Zavala Elementary School, Austin, Texas
Other things named for Lorenzo de Zavala
- Zavala County, Texas
- De Zavala Rd, a major thoroughfare in San Antonio, Texas
- Lorenzo De Zavala Lodge #1397, Masonic Lodge, Houston, Texas
- City of Zavalla, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Austin, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session, National Hispanic Institute (with programs in San Antonio, Texas; Rochester, New York; San Diego, California; Fort Collins, Colorado; Joliet, Illinois; and Panama City, Panama)
- Zavala Hispanic Cultural Initiative (Non-Profit organization promoting education, art and culture in Wichita Falls, Texas)
References
- ^ a b c "A Guide to the Lorenzo De Zavala Papers, 1818-1936". lib.utexas.edu. Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ a b c "Lorenzo de Zavala (1789-1836)". lsjunction.com. Lone Star Junction. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ a b c Fitzpatrick, Vale. "The Portal to Texas History/Lorenzo de Zavala Online: Impresario, Statesman and Texas Revolutionary". education.texashistory.unt.edu. University of North Texas Libraries. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ISBN 9780306806285.
- ^ Lozano, Reuben R. "The Mexican Texans and their Activities/Lorenzo de Zavala". tamu.edu/faculty (Texas A&M University). Wallace L. McKeehan. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ a b c "Texas A&M University/Sons of Dewitt Colony Texas". tamu.edu. Wallace L. McKeehan. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Lorenzo de Zavala". tsl.texas.gov. Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g Estep, Raymond (May 31, 2016). "Handbook of Texas Online/Zavala, Lorenzo de". tshaonline.org. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
- ^ TexasTejano - Texas Heritage Revival Announcement
- ^ "Lorenzo de Zavala". Texas State Library and Archives. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-0875651507.
- ^ Ron Morgan, "Lorenzo de Zavala" in Encyclopedia of Mexico. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn 1997, p. 1638.
- ^ ISBN 978-1558854536.
- ^ Wright, R. "Santa Anna and the Texas Revolution". andrews.edu. Andrews University. Retrieved 2 February 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Polendo, Kamen (October 16, 2014). "Lorenzo de Zavala". press.com. Press. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ Joy, Mark S. "Empresario land grants in Texas". immigrationtounitedstates.org. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "Empresario Contracts in the Colonization of Texas 1825-1834". tamu.edu. Wallace L. McKeehan. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "Texas Originals/ Lorenzo de Zavala". humanitiestexas.org. Humanities Texas. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ "Texas Declaration of Independence". tsi.texas.gov. Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
- ^ "Scott, William". 2010-06-15.
- ^ Kleiner, Diana J. (2010-06-15). "William Scott". tshaonline.org. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
- ^ .
- ^ Normand, Pete (October 30, 2012). "Lorenzo de Zavala – "First Vice-President of the Republic"". grandlodgeoftexas.org. The Texas Masons. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
- ^ Bulnes, Francisco (1904). Las Grandes Mentiras de Nuestra Historia (in Spanish). Bouret. pp. 844–845.
- ^ Sosa, Francisco (1884). Biografias de Mexicans Distinguidos (in Spanish). Oficina Tipografica de la Secretaria de Fomento. p. 1108.
- S2CID 258818142.
- ^ Wooster, Robert (2010-06-15). "Handbook of Texas Online/Zavala, Texas". tshaonline.org. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
- ^ "Zavala County, Texas". co.zavala.tx.us. Zavala County, Texas. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ "National Hispanic Institute LDZ". www.nationalhispanicinstitute.org. National Hispanic Institute. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- ^ "Lorenzo de Zavala - Houston ~ Marker Number: 10638". Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. 1936.
- ^ "Lorenzo de Zavala - Houston ~ Marker Number: 10637". Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. 1968.