JAMES BOWIETexas Revolution Patriot

Pioneer and Soldier

Born April 10, 1796Died March 6, 1836

Family Born in Kentucky

- his parents were Reason and Elve Ap-Catesby Jones Bowie- James was the ninth of ten children – also known as Jim- Family moved frequently, settling southeastern Louisiana- Plantation near Opelousas – grew cotton and sugarcane- Bought and sold salves

The Early Years During his teens James Bowie operated a sugar mill

and floated lumber to market

Land speculator

Loved to hunt and fish

Family tradition says he caught and rode wild horses, rode alligators, and trapped bears

Described as a stout rather raw boned man, 6 feet tall and weighed 180 pounds. He had light colored hair, grey eyes, a fair complexion and high cheek bones.

Middle Years Married Ursula Veramendi, the daughter of Don Juan Martin

Veramendi, who was the governor of the province of Texas and vice-governor of the Mexican state of Coahulia y Texas.

Baptized into the Catholic Church

1830 became a Mexican citizen

Searched for silver and gold, said to have found the San Saba mines, also know as the “Bowie mines”

His wife and two children died while he was away from a outbreak of cholera.

James Bowiethe man

James Bowie was known to speak his mind and to have a temper

Described as clever, a polite gentleman who was attentive to the ladies, a true, constant and generous friend; a man no one dared to undervalue and many feared

Slave trader, gambler, land speculator, dreamer, schemer and hero

Military Career Allegiance – United States of America Republic of Texas

Service – Texas Rangers, Republic of Texas Militia

Years of Service 1835 , 1836

Rank – Colonel

Unit – Volunteer Army

Commands held – The Alamo, San Antonio

Battles/Wars – Battle of Nacogdoches, Battle of Concepcion, Grass Fight, Siege of the Alamo

Bowie Knife James Bowie did not invent the Bowie

knife! His brother Rezin is credited for giving it to him after a fight with a parish sheriff

It is a large butcher like hunting knife which became famous after James Bowie killed a man during a duel turned brawl in Alexandria, Louisiana in 1827

After this he was known as the South’s best knife fighter

The Alamo January 19,1836, he arrives in Bexar with 30

men, has orders from Sam Houston to remove cannons and demolish the site

February 23, 1836, the Mexican Army take possession of Bexar and this leads to the Battle of the Alamo

James Bowie in command of the volunteer force, William Travis in charge of regular army troops

The two men shared authority during much of the Siege of the Alamo, which caused some problems

The Alamo February 24, 1836, James Bowie who is

suffering from pneumonia or probably advanced tuberculosis, collapses. He is confined to a cot but tells his volunteers to follow William Travis

March 6, 1836, the Mexicans attack, all 188 defenders of the Alamo die. Santa Anna wants to see the bodies of Bowie, Travis and Crockett. James Bowie lay on his cot in a room on the south side, shot several times in the head.

Fighting to the End

“Remember the Alamo!”

Sources www.tshaonline.org www.lsjunction.com www.davidstuff.com http://virtualology.com/americanwest/JAM

ESBOWIE.NET/ http://hotx.com/alamo/bowie.html