At the beginning of the nineteenth century, next to nothing was known about Texas. Even its ownership was in dispute.
When Thomas Jefferson purchased Louisiana from Napoleon in 1803, the Americans and French asserted those lands extended all the way to the Rio Grande.
Spain was alarmed by the claim and afraid that the United States would press it. So afraid that in 1819, King Ferdinand VII gave Florida to the Americans in exchange for dropping all claims to Texas.
Two years later, in 1821, Mexico finally threw off the Spanish crown and became a tumultuous republic. Things were happening fast.
Just the year before, Moses Austin had inked a deal with the Spanish authorities to settle 300 families in Texas. But he died before he could begin the task. Moses would not enter the Promised Land.
The father’s dying wish was for the son to take up his work. Stephen Fuller Austin, just twenty-eight years old, would become the empresario.
After settling his father’s affairs in San Antonio, Stephen explored and mapped the area between the Brazos and the Colorado where his colony would be situated.
That was the genesis of his 1822 map. We call it Texas Genesis.
This is a high quality fine-art print.
