The 'Convention of 1836' was a meeting of elected
delegates in
Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas, then part of
Mexico, at which was adopted the
Texas Declaration of Independence.
Elections for delegates were held on
February 1,
1836, amid the backdrop of an impeding invasion of
Texas by the
Mexican Army under
Antonio López de Santa Anna. The convention was convened on
March 1 with
Richard Ellis as president. Fifty delegates attended, representing each of the settlements of Texas.
The delegates quickly wrote and adopted a Declaration of Independence, which was signed and proclaimed the next day on
March 2,
1836. The delegates also prepared a Constitution for the new
Republic of Texas and organized an interim government which served until the following October.
The officers chosen for the interim government were:
★
David G. Burnet, President
★
Lorenzo de Zavala, Vice-president
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Samuel P. Carson, Secretary of State
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Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of War
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Bailey Hardeman, Secretary of Treasury
★
David Thomas (Texas politician), Attorney General
The convention adjourned on
March 17 amid news of the impending arrival of the Mexican Army.
See also
★
History of Texas
External links
★
Journals of the Convention at Washington, 1836 from
Gammel's Laws of Texas, Vol. I. hosted by the
Portal to Texas History.
★
Lone Star Junction: Convention of 1836