12/9/1716: Martin de Alarcon appointed governor of Texas

[Craig Tx]

On this day in 1716, Martin de Alarcon was appointed Spanish governor of Texas.

Alarcon, though governor for just three short years, played a pivotal role in Texas history. In the spring of 1718, he led settlers across the Rio Grande and assisted in the founding of San Antonio de Valero mission and San Antonio de Bexar presidio. The accompanying families formed the beginnings of a settlement. Thus, Alarcon is credited as the founder of San Antonio, the most important town in Spanish Texas and the eye of the storm of the Texas Revolution. As part of his official duties, Alarcon also inspected the East Texas missions and was constantly vigilant against the widespread French contraband trade, advising explorer and trader Jean Baptiste Benard de La Harpe to leave Spanish territory. Alarcon was relieved of his gubernatorial duties in the fall of 1719.