Born in Virginia and raised in Southeastern Missouri,Stephen Fuller Austin is considered the founder of Anglo-American Texas.At the age of eleven years,he attended school in Connecticut and later graduated with distinction from Transylvania University in Kentucky.

In 1813,at the age of twenty-one years,he was elected to the territorial Legislature of Missouri,and was reelected to that position each year until 1819,when he moved to Arkansas.Meanwhile,Stephen's father,Moses Austin,received a grant of land in Texas for purposes of colonization.

The elder Austin died soon after returning to Missouri from a trip to Texas, but bequeathed his grant to Stephen with instructions to carry it to a successful completion.Accordingly after many delays and frustration with the Mexican government,Steven Austin introduced a large number of colonists from the United States .An unassuming man with a kindly presence, he was deeply respected by all , and achieved unparalleled influence over the often unruly settles in Anglo Texas.