 | ||
A Texas Legation was maintained by the Republic of Texas in Washington, D.C., London, and Paris (1 Place Vendôme) from 1836 through 1845. A legation is a diplomatic mission that is headed by a lower-ranking official than an ambassador.
In a bid to protect itself from almost certain invasion by forces from neighboring Mexico, the government of the republic sought to foster international ties. It did this by also opening the Texas Legations in London and Paris. Their opening is believed by some academics to be less an attempt by Texas to enter the international stage as an independent country and more a maneuver to prompt officials in the United States to worry that an independent Texas might allow British and French soldiers to mass on the southern border of the U.S.
When Texas sought to join the United States in 1845, the British Empire supported keeping it independent. The British even offered to guarantee Texas's borders with both the States and Mexico. Texas was a tactical ally of Britain acting as a counterweight to the United States. Nonetheless an independent Texas was probably inviable for financial reasons, and when the Republic became a state in 1845 the embassy was shut down.
Locations
London 51.5056°N 0.1380°W / 51.5056; -0.1380
The Texas Legation in London was located in Pickering Place, an alley off the east side of St. James's Street near St. James's Palace in a building that also houses Berry Bros. & Rudd, a prestigious wine merchants' firm that has been at that site since 1730. On the north side of the building is a plaque marking it as the site of the legation. At the top of the plaque is the seal of the Republic of Texas. The text of the plaque reads: "Texas Legation In this building was the legation for the ministers from the Republic of Texas to the Court of St. James 1842 - 1845. Erected by the Anglo-Texan Society".
The plaque was erected in 1963. Anglo-Texan Society member Alfred Bossom led the effort to erect the plaque and the honour of its unveiling went to then-Governor Price Daniel.
Paris 48.8668°N 2.3288°E / 48.8668; 2.3288
The Texas Legation in Paris was located not far from the Tuileries Palace at 1 Place Vendôme 75001, where there is today a carving on the wall above the Hotel de Vendome that indicates where the embassy used to be.