Online Encyclopedia
Convention of 1836
The Convention of 1836 was a meeting of elected delegate s 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, when elections were held.
The officers chosen for the interem government were:
- David G. Burnet, President
- Lorenzo de Zavala , Vice-president
- Samuel P. Carson, Secretary of State
- Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of War
- Bailey Hardeman, Secretary of Treasury
- David Thomas, Attorney General
The convention adjourned on March 17 amid news of the impending arrival of the Mexican Army.