Stephen F. Austin

Stephen Fuller Austin is commonly known as the father of Texas. His father, Moses Austin, dreamed of setting up an establishment of 300 families in Texas. However, this dream was crushed when he passed away, and hence Stephen now owned the land for it was left to him in his father's will. Austin fulfilled his father's dreams, and he and "The Old 300" settled in the lands now known as Brazoria County. Austin became an empresario, and helped settle many families in this region. He was arrested for his inflammatory comments, on allowing more Americans to settle in Texas, by the Mexican government. After the defeat of Santa Anna, he ran for president of Texas, and looked like he would be the clear winner, however, just two weeks before the election, Sam Houston entered, and won.