This Date In Texas History - December 22

[joe817]

1832 - Birthday of Elijah E. Myers, the architect for the Texs State Capitol. He revised his original plan for a square dome to a round one.

1835 - As the General Council is meeting at San Felipe with Mexican officials to resolve Texas' grievances, Stephen F Austin speaking at Velasco, calls for Independence. Austin is preceded by only two days by a declaration for Independence passed by residents of Goliad. Word of these calls for Independence reaches San Felipe, and soon, what Federalist support the Texans had in their struggles for Mexican Statehood dwindle away. Within weeks, Texas will be at war for their Independence from Mexico.

1836 - The General Land Office was established by the First Congress of the Republic of Texas. John P. Borden, the first commissioner, opened the office in Houston on October 1, 1837. He was enjoined by law to "superintend, execute, and perform all acts touching or respecting the public lands of Texas." Much of the early business of the office consisted of translating and registering Spanish and Mexican land grants.

1912 - Lady Bird Johnson, wife and former First Lady of Lyndon B. Johnson, was born in Karnack, Texas.

1922 - Future House Speaker Jim Wright was born in Fort Worth. Earned a Distinguished Flying Cross during World War II combat in the South Pacific as a bombadier in the U.S. Army Air Forces; Won a seat in the Texas House at age 24 in 1946; "Boy Wonder" mayor of Weatherford from 1950-1954; Member of Congress from Fort Worth, 1955-1989; House Majority Leader, 1979-1987; Speaker of the House, 1987-1989.