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Texas
| People
| Texas HistorySamuel
Rhoads Fisher1794-1839
Signer
of Texas Declaration of Independence
Republic of Texas Secretary of the Navy |
Historical
Marker (In Matagorda
Cemetery) Text:
Grave of Republic of Texas Secretary of the Navy
S.
Rhoads Fisher1794-1839
Statesman
- businessman who contributed talent and time to establish and maintain Texas
Independence.
A quaker; born in Pennsylvania. Moved to Texas 1830. Set
up mercantile house and shipping business in Matagorda.
Struggled against anti-Texas policies of Santa Anna's dictatorship in Mexico.
Won election as one of Matagorda delegates to the 1836 convention in Washington
on the Brazos. Signed Texas declaration of Independence. In first regular
administration of Republic of Texas, became secretary of the navy in cabinet of
president Sam Houston in October 1836.
By
March 1837 Mexican blockaders were trying to reduce Texas to starvation by capturing
shipments including those of the U.S.A. -- on Gulf of Mexico.
Secretary
Fisher went to sea with the Texas navy to attack Mexican coast and draw blockaders
away from ports of Galveston,
Matagorda, and Velasco.
Texas captured territory and ships of the enemy; but later accidents and storms
destroyed the navy and prizes.
In late 1837 secretary Fisher resigned.
Back in Matagorda he died
as result of a shooting in 1839. He and his wife had four children. Several leaders
in state government have come from this family. In 1876 a new county was named
in honor of S. Rhoads Fisher.
(1968) |
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