José Francisco Ruiz
| José Francisco Ruiz | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | January 29, 1783 San Antonio de Bexar, Spanish Texas, Viceroyalty of New Spain |
| Died |
January 19, 1840 (aged 56) San Antonio, Republic of Texas |
| Nationality | Spanish (1783-1821), Mexican (1821-1836), and Tejano (1836-1840) |
| Profession | Military officer, schoolmaster, senator to the 1st Congress of the Republic of Texas |
José Francisco "Francis" Ruiz (ca. January 29, 1783 – January 19, 1840) was a soldier, educator, politician, Republic of Texas Senator, and revolutionary.
Ruiz was born in San Antonio de Bexar in the interior province of Spanish Texas, to Juan Manuel Ruiz and María Manuela de la Peña.
Appointed the first schoolmaster of San Antonio in 1803, he designated as the first school a house acquired by his father, on Military Plaza. This house was carefully reconstructed in 1943 and moved to the grounds of the Witte Museum, where it is still used for educational purposes.
In 1805 Ruiz became a city councilman, or regidor, in San Antonio. He served in various official capacities including city attorney, or procurador.
Ruiz began a long military career in 1811, joining the Bexar Provincial Militia with the rank of lieutenant. He joined the Republican Army at Bexar and took part in failed revolution from Spain in 1813, fighting at the battle of Medina on August 18. Forced into exile from Texas until 1822, Ruiz returned after Mexico won its independence from Spain. He was ordered by the Mexican government to make attempts at peace with the hostile Native American tribes of the North, the Comanches and the Lipans. Appointed to the mounted militia upon his return, he successfully led a peace treaty delegation of Lipans to Mexico City later in 1822. The next year, Ruiz received a promotion to army captain, unassigned, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, receiving confirmation of his commission in 1825. He was sent to Nacogdoches in December 1826 to help put down the Fredonian Rebellion, receiving command of that detachment in April of the next year.
Ruiz was a member of the Comisión de Límites (Boundary Commission), which was assigned to explore areas of Texas following the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819. This commission left Mexico City on November 10, 1827, under the command of General Manuel de Mier y Terán. Ruiz returned to Bexar in 1828, where he commanded the famed Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras, which established Fort Tenoxtitlán in 1830.
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