Republic of Texas: A Decade of Independence

TEXAS, REPUBLIC OF. The first European settlement made in Texas was by La Salle, in 1685, by accident. In 1689 Captain De Leon, a Spanish officer, was sent to drive out the French. He found them scattered, and the next year he returned with 110 men and some friars, and on the site of a fort built by La Salle, on Matagorda Bay, established a Spanish mission. A Spanish governor, with troops, was sent their in 1691, but Indian hostilities and menaces of famine caused the settlement to be abandoned in 1693. In 1714 the French again attempted to plant settlements in Texas, under the direction of Crozat, of Louisiana. Soon afterwards (1715) Spanish missions were planted at various points in the present domain of Texas; the name of " New Philippines " was given to the country, and a governor-general was appointed.  The Indians slaughtered the people at some of the missions, and in 1765 there were not more than 750 white inhabitants in Texas.