Wealthy Merchant and Rancher. Known as the "Merchant Prince of the Rio Grande," he was the mayor of Laredo, Texas from 1856 to 1859. He was a descendant of Tomas Sanchez de la Barrera y Garza, the founder of Laredo. He was chief justice of Webb County and a member of Texas House of Representatives serving three terms, from 1879 to 1884. He was a Captain of the 33rd Texas Cavalry, also called Benavides' Regiment, until he was promoted to Colonel in November 1863. He was the highest-ranking Tejano, which is a Spanish-speaking Texan, Confederate soldier. In May 1865, his regiment participated in the last battle of the Civil War at the Battle of Palmito Ranch; this happened after the end of the war as General Lee surrendered April 14, 1865. In recognition of his political achievement, he was appointed Texas delegate to the World Cotton Exposition in 1884.
Wealthy Merchant and Rancher. Known as the "Merchant Prince of the Rio Grande," he was the mayor of Laredo, Texas from 1856 to 1859. He was a descendant of Tomas Sanchez de la Barrera y Garza, the founder of Laredo. He was chief justice of Webb County and a member of Texas House of Representatives serving three terms, from 1879 to 1884. He was a Captain of the 33rd Texas Cavalry, also called Benavides' Regiment, until he was promoted to Colonel in November 1863. He was the highest-ranking Tejano, which is a Spanish-speaking Texan, Confederate soldier. In May 1865, his regiment participated in the last battle of the Civil War at the Battle of Palmito Ranch; this happened after the end of the war as General Lee surrendered April 14, 1865. In recognition of his political achievement, he was appointed Texas delegate to the World Cotton Exposition in 1884.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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