David Grieves
Houston, Harris County, Texas
Marker Inscription
A member of Captain Henry Teal's company at San Jacinto. Born in Scotland; died in Houston June 15, 1837.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
David Grieves was a Scottish immigrant who cast his lot with the Texas struggle for independence, serving in Captain Henry Teal's company at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836. That short, decisive fight secured Texas's break from Mexico. Grieves lived only briefly afterward, dying in the raw new town of Houston in 1837.
Why it matters
His story ties the immigrant soldiers of the Texas Revolution to the founding of the Republic that San Jacinto made possible.
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Related people
- ยท David Grieves
- ยท Henry Teal
Related events
- ยท Battle of San Jacinto
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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