Juan Davis Bradburn
Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas
Marker Inscription
John Davis Bradburn (1787-1842) was born in Virginia and reared in Kentucky. He entered Mexico in 1817 with Francisco Mina's army to help upset Spanish colonial forces in the War of Independence. He became a naturalized Mexican citizen and in 1821 married into an aristocratic family. Bradburn hired Henry Austin to operate a steamboat on the Rio Grande in 1828. Best known as the Mexican commander at the Anahuac disturbances in 1830-32, he was promoted to general in 1832, and died in 1842. The exact location of his grave is unknown; he reportedly is buried on the hill nearby. (1996)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
John Davis Bradburn was a Virginia-born, Kentucky-raised adventurer who entered Mexico in 1817 to fight for its independence from Spain, later becoming a naturalized citizen and marrying into a prominent family. As the Mexican commander at Anahuac in 1830–32, his clashes with Anglo colonists helped ignite the tensions that led toward the Texas Revolution. Promoted to general in 1832, he died a decade later and is said to be buried on a nearby hill.
Why it matters
Bradburn's confrontations at Anahuac were among the sparks that set Texas on the road to revolution.
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Related people
- · John Davis Bradburn
- · Francisco Mina
- · Henry Austin
Related events
- · Anahuac disturbances, 1830-32
Themes & tags
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