23 Facts About James Fannin

James Fannin was memorialized in several place names, including a military training camp and a major city street in Houston.

James Fannin was born on January 1,1804, in Georgia to Isham Fannin, a plantation owner and veteran of the War of 1812.

James Fannin's mother was not married to his father, and he was adopted by his maternal grandfather, James W Walker, and raised on a plantation in Marion, Georgia.

James Fannin briefly attended the University of Georgia when he was 14, and later enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point on July 1,1819.

James Fannin seems to have been academically deficient, and was often tardy or absent from classes, standing 60th out of a class of 86.

James Fannin resigned November 20,1821, from the school after dueling a fellow cadet.

James Fannin had received a letter from a cousin urging his immediate return to Georgia to attend to ailing grandparents.

In 1834, James Fannin settled his family at Velasco, in Tejas, where he owned a slave plantation and was a managing partner in a slave-trading syndicate.

James Fannin wrote letters seeking financial assistance and volunteers to help Texas.

Under the command of Bowie, James Fannin fought in the Battle of Concepcion on October 28,1835.

James Fannin wrote back requesting a field appointment of brigadier general and a "post of danger".

On November 22,1835, James Fannin was honorably discharged from the volunteer army by Austin and began campaigning for a larger regular army for Texas.

James Fannin went home to spend time with his family.

James Fannin began recruiting forces and supplies for the forthcoming and confusing Matamoros campaign against the Mexican city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

James Fannin tried to institute regular Army discipline, but his irregular volunteers would not accept it.

James Fannin sent Lieutenant Colonel William Ward and about 120 men to King's aid.

James Fannin sent word to the men at Refugio to rendezvous with his command at Victoria.

On March 19,1836, James Fannin led the Texians on a retreat from Presidio La Bahia, which James Fannin had renamed Fort Defiance.

The column had traveled about 6 miles when James Fannin ordered a halt to rest his animals.

James Fannin was the last to be executed, after seeing his men killed.

James Fannin was taken to the courtyard in front of the chapel, blindfolded, and seated in a chair.

James Fannin made three requests: that his personal possessions be sent to his family, to be shot in the heart and not the face, and to be given a Christian burial.

James Fannin was then shot in the face and his body burned along with the other Texians who died that day.