8/1/1731: First election in Texas

[Craig Tx]

On this day in 1731, Capt. Juan Antonio Pérez de Almazán, the commander of San Antonio de Béxar Presidio, presided over what was probably the first election in Texas history.

In March he had welcomed a group of settlers from the Canary Islands by laying out a place for their homes and by establishing a municipal government. The immigrants formed the nucleus of the villa of San Fernando de Béxar, the first regularly organized civil government in Texas. On August 1 the new city council met to elect alcaldes, and electoral politics was off and running.

[Winter Hawk]

So Craig, who elected the city council, or were the members appointed by de Almazán?

And thank you again for posting these historical notes, even if I'm not from or even near, Texas.

~Kees~

[Craig Tx]

To be honest, I don't know.  Given how the Spanish operated their colonies at the time, I would suppose that they were appointed by de Alamazan.

You're welcome!  I enjoy sharing the historic events of Texas!

[BEAVERMAN]