Downtown Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Henry Smith
Photographed By Keith Peterson, September 3, 2007
1. Henry Smith Marker
Henry Smith (1788-1851) immersed himself in public affairs soon after arriving in Texas in 1827. Initially a local political leader in what is now Brazoria County, he was appointed in 1835 as a delegate to the San Felipe Consultation, which met to determine Texas’ position toward the Mexican dictatorship established by Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Contrary to Smith’s desire for independence, the Consultation voted to support the 1824 Mexican Federal Constitution, but established a provisional government to operate until the conflict with Santa Anna was resolved.
Henry Smith was the chief author of the plan for civil government, which was adopted as Organic Law on Nov. 11, 1835. He then was elected Provisional Governor and served from Nov. 12, 1835, until Mar. 1, 1836. Smith’s term was plagued with problems, but he submitted his progress report on Mar. 4 to the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos. There Smith’s crusade for independence was finally won.
Following the war against Mexico, Henry Smith served as Texas’ Secretary of the Treasury under President Sam Houston and one term in the Republic’s House of Representatives.
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Erected 1983 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 15055.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • War, Texas Independence. A significant historical date for this entry is March 1, 1853.
Location. 30° 16.341′ N, 97° 44.505′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Downtown Austin. Marker can be reached from the intersection of West 11th Street and Congress Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Austin TX 78701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Governor Edmund Jackson Davis (a few steps from this marker); Governor Elisha Marshall Pease (a few steps from this marker); Site of Temporary Texas State Capitol of 1880’s (a few steps from this marker); First Classes of the University of Texas Law School (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Bakery (within shouting distance of this marker); African Americans in the Texas Revolution (within shouting distance of this marker); The Woman Suffrage Movement in Texas (within shouting distance of this marker); Governor Andrew Jackson Hamilton (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.
Photographed By Michael Heinich, August 24, 2014
2. Henry Smith Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2010, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,074 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 17, 2010, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 2. submitted on August 24, 2014, by Michael Heinich of Austin, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
