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U.S. appoints its first diplomat to the Republic of Texas
On this day in 1837, President Andrew Jackson appointed Alcée Louis La
Branche to be the first diplomat from the United States to the Republic
of Texas. As United States chargé d'affaires, La Branche negotiated the
settlement of the cases concerning the brigs Pocket and Durango
and a temporary commerce agreement. He aggressively defended the United
States claim to disputed territory in Red River County. On April 25,
1838, the two countries signed the Convention of Limits, which
recognized Texas claims to the contested county and the Sabine River as
the eastern boundary of Texas. However, tension continued between the
Republic of Texas and the United States regarding Indian depredations
along the northern border. La Branche protested Texas army crossings of
the border in pursuit of Indians. He believed that the majority of
Indian attacks were caused by Texans' trespassing and surveying Indian
lands. La Branche's reports on real or rumored Mexican attacks expressed
optimism about the Texans' ability to retain their independence. On
April 2, 1840, La Branche resigned his post to attend to personal
affairs. His clear, calm reports enabled his government to be sensitive
to the Texas position on various issues.
- Links to Related Handbook of Texas Online Articles
- LA BRANCHE, ALCEE LOUIS
- REPUBLIC OF TEXAS
- POCKET
- DURANGO
- RED RIVER COUNTY
- Other Texas Day by Day Articles for This Date
- Texas Regiment formed for duty in the Philippines (1899)
- Prominent black political leader dies (1898)
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