Branch Tanner Archer was a Texan who served as Commissioner to the United States and Speaker of the House of the Republic of Texas House of Representatives and Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas.
Background
Branch Tanner Archer was born on December 13, 1790 in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. His father was a Revolutionary soldier, Peter Field Archer of Henrico and Powhatan Counties; his mother was Frances, daughter of Branch Tanner.
Education
According to one biographer, Archer studied medicine in Philadelphia, and for some years was a physician and politician in his native state, where he served one or two terms as a member of the legislature.
Career
He arrived in Texas in 1831, and immediately identified himself with a small group of malcontents who were impatient with Mexico's bungling political experiments. Brazoria was the headquarters of this group, and Archer's first public service in Texas was to represent a mass meeting of Brazoria in demanding modification of objectionable port regulations.
He represented the district of Brazoria in the convention of April 1833, which adopted a provisional constitution and petitioned the Mexican Congress for the admission of Texas to the Mexican Confederation as a co-state. In November 1835 he again represented Brazoria in the consultation which was called originally for settling on a policy to be followed with regard to the changes which Santa Anna was making in the federal constitution of 1824. Before the consultation met, war had already been precipitated by the demand of the military commandant for a cannon which the colonists had at Gonzales.
Archer was elected chairman of the consultation, and made a speech at the beginning of the session, urging the members to disregard factional irritation and to devote themselves solely to the best interests of Texas. The fundamental question to be settled by the consultation was, "What are we fighting for?" The answer tentatively adopted on November 7 was, "For the republican principles of the constitution of 1824. "
On this question Archer voted aye, though he favored independence. But whether the Texans were fighting to uphold the federal constitution of Mexico or for independence, it was apparent that they would need assistance. Therefore Archer, with Stephen F. Austin and William H. Wharton, was appointed a commissioner to the United States to solicit men, money, and supplies.
The three commissioners arrived at New Orleans in January 1836, and negotiated loans there for $250, 000. They aroused much sympathy for the Texan cause in their progress up the Mississippi River, and were indirectly responsible for the movement of a considerable number of "emigrants" to Texas to assist in the war for independence which was declared on March 2, 1836.
At Washington, though Archer was related to William S. Archer who long represented Virginia in Congress, and though both Austin and Wharton had influential friends, the commissioners were unable to commit the government of the United States in any way to the policy of recognizing or aiding the new Republic of Texas. It was probably due to Archer that the personal relations of the commissioners were harmonious and cordial, for Austin and Wharton had not previously been friends.
Archer and Wharton took the lead in nominating Austin for the presidency of Texas, and supported him against Henry Smith and Sam Houston. A member of the first Congress of Texas, Archer was at the second session elected speaker of the lower house. His last public service was in the cabinet of President Lamar, where he served as secretary of war. A newspaper at the time of his death speaks of his "stalwart form and Cato-like look. "
Achievements
Personality
His portrait shows a handsome, striking face--long, lean, broad of forehead, with piercing eyes, and clearly chiseled nose, lips, and chin.