“Juan Seguín was a great patriot, and he’s not as well known as he should be,” Green said. “He fought for Texas alongside Sam Houston, but you’ll rarely Seguín’s name alongside his in the history books.”

House Resolution 315 catalogs Seguín’s most notable accomplishments, which culminated with the Battle of San Jacinto, where Seguín served as an officer under General Sam Houston in the decisive battle for Texas independence.

This bill’s timing coincides with the 171^st anniversary of the Battle and the 100^th anniversary of the San Jacinto Battleground’s designation as a state park. Green will speak at a ceremony at the Battleground on April 21 to recognize the anniversaries. 

Seguín was a native of Mexico, interested in politics from an early age. He opposed Mexican leader and sometime-President Antonio López de Santa Anna, and joined the Texas Revolution. He fought at the Alamo and escaped death only because he had left on an urgent mission for reinforcements before the fort fell.

Later, Seguín saved San Antonio when he questioned General Felix Huston’s order to burn it to the ground. Texas President Sam Houston, Seguín’s longtime friend, countermanded Huston’s order and the city was saved.

When the Revolution ended, Seguín embarked on a career of public service. He was, at various times, a senator for the Republic of Texas and first Tejano member of the Congress of Texas, mayor of San Antonio, and a judge in Wilson County. As senator, Seguín helped pass a bill to support widows and orphans of those killed at the Alamo. In 1853 the city of Walnut Springs, Texas changed its name to Seguin in his honor.

This is not the first time Green has introduced legislation to celebrate Seguin’s legacy. Since 2003 the Houston-area congressman has repeatedly sponsored a bill urging the United States Postal Service to issue a stamp commemorating Seguín. So far the bill has not come to a vote, but this year’s version, House Resolution 20, is currently being considered by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

For more information on Juan Seguín’s life and legacy, visit:

http://www.seguinfamilyhistory.com/ and

http://www.seguindescendantshp.com/.