Texas Day by Day
On this day in Texas history…
Today's Entries 3 found
1. Hill Country natural history authority dies in England
March 5th, 1929

On this day in 1929, Howard George Lacey, rancher and naturalist, died in Bournemouth, England. He was born in Wareham, Dorset, England, on April 15, 1856, to aristocratic parents who sent him to private European schools; he earned a B.A. degree from Caius College, Cambridge. He immigrated to the United States at the age of twenty-six and settled in Kerr County, Texas. In 1882 he purchased land on Turtle Creek, seven miles southwest of Kerrville, where he ranched for almost forty years. He gained wide recognition as a breeder of Angora goats, but his greatest fame came from his interest in natural sciences. His studies, observations, and collections of Hill Country flora and fauna ensured his reputation as an authority on the natural history of the region. Lacey published little, but he corresponded with natural scientists in Europe and throughout the United States and frequently entertained internationally known naturalists and scientists at his ranch. In addition, he worked in close contact with the Smithsonian Institution, the British Museum of Natural History, the Audubon Society of America, the American Ornithological Union, and the National Geographic Society. In recognition of Lacey's contributions to the field of zoology, three small mammals were named for him. In 1919, in ill health, Lacey sold his ranch and returned to England. His collection of specimens was donated to the Witte Museum in San Antonio.
See also:
2. Mexican Army captures San Antonio; Republic of Texas totters
March 5th, 1842

On this day in 1842, Mexican general Ráfael Vásquez, with 700 soldiers, occupied San Antonio. Unable to raise an army in time to resist this invasion, the Texans surrendered and evacuated the town without a fight. Vásquez raised the Mexican flag over the town, and declared Mexican laws in effect. On March 9 the Mexican army abandoned San Antonio and began to withdraw to Mexico. The incident was part of a series of raids and counter-raids in 1842 as Mexico sought to recover Texas and the Texans fought to maintain their independence.
See also:
3. Richard Henry Boyd born into slavery
March 5th, 1843

On this day in 1843, Richard Henry Boyd began his remarkable life. He was born in Mississippi and named Dick Gray, a slave of B. A. Gray, and was later taken to his owner’s new plantation near Brenham, Texas. Boyd accompanied Gray and his three sons as a servant in the Confederate army. After Gray and his two older sons died in battle near Chattanooga, Boyd carried the youngest son, who was badly wounded, back to the Texas plantation. Boyd took charge of the plantation and managed cotton production and sales until emancipation. He then worked as a cowboy and in 1867 changed his name from Gray to Richard Henry Boyd. Self-taught, he enrolled in Bishop College at Marshall and was later ordained a Baptist minister. He organized six churches into the first black Baptist association in Texas in 1870 and went on to represent the group at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Boyd rose to prominence in Texas as a religious leader, established more churches, and published literature for black Baptist Sunday schools. In the mid-1890s he moved to Nashville, where his accomplishments included organizing a bank, a publishing company, and a doll company. He also wrote or edited fourteen books.
See also:
Recent & Upcoming Anniversaries
The following entries have anniversaries that occurred this month or will occur in the next 2 month(s):
300th Anniversary
- Aguayo expedition enters Texas 2 weeks from now
265th Anniversary
- Explorer promises each Texan a silver mine 5 days from now
220th Anniversary
- Famed mustanger and filibuster killed 2 weeks from now
195th Anniversary
- Cherokee leader arrives in Mexico City seeking tribal land grant 2 weeks from now
185th Anniversary
- Infamy at Goliad 3 weeks from now
- Falvel given command of Flash 1 week from now
- Mexican forces under Santa Anna capture key Brazos crossing 1 month 1 week from now
- Convention of 1836 breaks up in a hurry 1 week from now
- Alamo falls to Mexican army 1 day from now
- Texas declares independence from Mexico 3 days ago
- Texas forces win at San Jacinto 1 month 2 weeks from now
- Santa Anna and Burnet sign Treaties of Velasco 2 months 1 week from now
- Mexican army captures Texas Masonic soldier 1 week from now
- Texas Navy schooner seizes mercantile brig; friction with U.S. ensues 2 weeks from now
- Groce's plantation becomes temporary capital of Texas 1 week from now
- Sarah Ann Horn and other settlers captured by Indians 4 weeks from now
- Indians take captives at Fort Parker 2 months 2 weeks from now
175th Anniversary
- First battle of Mexican War fought in South Texas 2 months 3 days from now
165th Anniversary
- Camels arrive for trial service in Texas 1 month 3 weeks from now
- Historic academy building dedicated in New Braunfels 1 month 1 week from now
- Sensational court-martial convenes for Alamo hero's son 1 week from now
160th Anniversary
- San Antonio mission reopens as Marianist training center 2 months 3 weeks from now
- Texas loses stagecoach mail and passenger service 4 days ago
- One-time port of Saluria was prominent in the Civil War 1 month 2 weeks from now
- Birth of Texas author and women's club leader 2 months 2 days from now
- Woman joins Union army in male disguise 2 months 2 weeks from now
155th Anniversary
- First black state convention meets in Austin 2 weeks from now
150th Anniversary
- El Chico's founder born in Mexico 2 months 3 weeks from now
- Attack on wagontrain precipitates decisive Indian war 2 months 1 week from now
- Legislature approves appropriation for Agricultural and Mechanical College 1 month 1 week from now
- State establishes agency to encourage immigration 2 months 2 weeks from now
140th Anniversary
- End of an era: Fort Griffin closes down 2 months 3 weeks from now
- State steps into sheep wars 4 days from now
135th Anniversary
- Semicentennial of Texas Independence celebrated 3 days ago
- Texas Radical Republican involved in Haymarket Massacre 1 month 4 weeks from now
- "Sandals" attack "Boots," setting off Laredo election riot 1 month 2 days from now
125th Anniversary
- First meeting of Texas Division of United Daughters of the Confederacy 2 months 2 weeks from now
- Marshal guns down notorious outlaw cum lawman 1 month 23 hours from now
120th Anniversary
- Bluebonnet proclaimed state flower 2 days from now
115th Anniversary
- Legendary lawman joins the Texas Rangers 1 month 2 weeks from now
110th Anniversary
- Magnolia Petroleum Company founded 1 month 2 weeks from now
- Fine arts association, Ney Museum founded 1 month 1 day from now
- Mexican theatrical company opens in San Antonio 2 months 2 weeks from now
105th Anniversary
- Big band leader born 1 week from now
100th Anniversary
- Majestic Theatre opens in Dallas 1 month 6 days from now
95th Anniversary
- New carbon black plant opens in Panhandle 6 days from now
- Preservationist and former Indian captive Rebecca Fisher dies 2 weeks from now
90th Anniversary
- Black Texas leader assassinated 1 month 2 weeks from now
- Legislature passes bill to study government reform 2 months 1 week from now
85th Anniversary
- Rock and roll legend born in Vernon 1 month 2 weeks from now
- REA begins bringing electricity to rural Texas 4 days from now
- Noted Texas journalist Hugh Fitzgerald dies 2 months 1 day from now
75th Anniversary
- First president of Rice Institute retires 4 days ago
65th Anniversary
- Evangelist breaks with Southern Baptist Convention 1 week from now
60th Anniversary
- Texas elects first Republican senator since Reconstruction 2 months 3 weeks from now
55th Anniversary
- First woman elected to state legislature dies 2 weeks from now
- American Academy of Arts and Letters honors black Texas poet 2 months 2 weeks from now
50th Anniversary
- Mexican-American feminists meet in Houston 2 months 3 weeks from now
- LBJ Library dedicated in Austin 2 months 2 weeks from now
- Tejana superstar born in Lake Jackson 1 month 1 week from now
35th Anniversary
- General Land Office gets new seal 2 weeks from now
- Houston honors Jewish fighters for Texas independence 1 month 3 weeks from now
- Newsweek chronicles decline of Texas steel town 3 weeks from now
30th Anniversary
- Queen Elizabeth visits historic black church in Houston 2 months 2 weeks from now