First Republic of Texas Navy: 1835-1837

First Republic of Texas Navy: 1835-1837. . , During the beginning of the Texas Revolution, a naval force was quickly assembled, based out of Quintana and Velasco., Even before Texas declared its independence, in late 1835 the provisional Texian government adopted laws to create a navy. However, actual creation was done largely through the efforts of Quintana merchants Thomas Freeman McKinney and Samuel May Williams, who put up much of the cash and personal credit required. The first four schooners acquired - Independence, Liberty, Brutus, and Invincible - helped defend the coast during the Texas revolution and the dangerous months that followed the victory at San Jacinto., During the revolution and the early days of the republic, Quintana and Velasco served as a principal base of the Texas Navy, due to their position at the mouth of the Brazos River and easy access to areas settled as part of Austin's Colony., Later Galveston, with its sheltered anchorage and growing commerce, was designated as the navy's primary base, but Quintana and Velasco remained critical strategic points on the vulnerable Texas coast., Images courtesy of San Jacinto Museum, (Captions) , Liberty (flying 1824 tricolor flag) 60 tons, Capt. William S. Brown , Invincible, 126 tons, Capt, Jeremiah Brown , Independence, 112 tons, Capt. Charles Hawkins , Brutus, 125 tons, Capt. William Hurd