Manuel Lorenzo Justiniano de Zavala y Sánchez (October 3, 1788 – November 15, 1836), known simply as Lorenzo de Zavala, was a Mexican and later Tejano medical doctor, politician, diplomat and author. Born in Yucatán under Spanish rule, he was closely involved in drafting the constitution for the First Federal Republic of Mexico in 1824 after Mexico won independence from Spain. Years later, he also helped in drafting a constitution for Mexico's rebellious enemy at the time, the Republic of Texas, to secure independence from Mexico in 1836. Zavala was said to have had a keen intellect and was fluent in multiple languages.
Zavala was one of the most prominent liberals in the era of the First Republic. Since his youth, Zavala was an indefatigable believer in the principle of democratic representative government. As a young man he founded several newspapers and wrote extensively, espousing democratic reforms — writings which led to his imprisonment by the Spanish crown. While imprisoned, he learned English and studied medicine; after his release, he practiced medicine for two years before entering politics.
In 1832, a liberal coup brought Valentin Gomez Farias to power. Zavala returned to Mexico and was appointed as Minister to France. While serving in Paris, Zavala witnessed overthrow of Gomez Farias and the subsequent fall of the First Mexican Republic. Santa Anna was in the process of setting up the Centralist Republic of Mexico, replacing the Mexican Constitution that Zavala himself had helped write. Zavala resigned his position in protest and spoke out against Santa Anna. Zavala and his family fled in the middle of night from a large hacienda with servants to Texas, which like many Mexican provinces at the time, was rebelling against Santa Anna and the centralist constitution which intended to strip Mexican provinces of their autonomy. Zavala eventually became an advocate of Texas independence, helped in the drafting of the Constitution of the Republic of Texas, and served as vice president until he resigned due to failing health.
Zavala's legacy in Mexico remains controversial with historians recognizing his political and intellectual work, his important role in the early history of the nation, while still branding him a traitor for helping the Texans secede from Mexico. Conversely, Texans consider him a founding father and state hero. In modern-day Texas, both a county and a city are named in his honor, as well as many schools and public buildings including the Texas State Archives and Library Building in Austin.
Early life and education
Zavala was born on October 3, 1788, in the town of Tecoh, Yucatán, Zavala's parents were criollos, Spanish Basques born in Mexico. Zavala was a third-generation Yucatecan. His grandfather moved to the Yucatán peninsula from Peru. Zavala's father, born in 1725, was a notary— a legal representative in Spanish-speaking countries. He served in the Mexican Senate from 1824 to 1826. The book was mainly a panegyric, but did point out the hypocrisy of the U.S. for allowing slavery despite professing lofty ideals of freedom. In protest, Zavala resigned his post in France and renounced López de Santa Anna, who then ordered Zavala to return to Mexico City. Zavala, for his own safety, moved his family to Texas where he owned land. Other than Austin, the only other Texan he knew before arriving was David G. Burnet who later became Interim President of Texas. The owner of a grant was given immense tracts of Texas land in exchange for recruiting and being responsible for a certain quota of new settlers—in Zavala's case, 500 families.
The previous summer, Zavala had bought a home on 177 acres (equal to one labor, a Spanish term of land measurement) north of Buffalo Bayou in Harris County, called Zavala Point. This border area contained many immigrants from the United States who were accustomed to a democratic government and individual rights. Animosity against López de Santa Anna's rule was common and rebellion was brewing. López de Santa Anna was angered by what he perceived to be U.S. interference in Mexican affairs, and set about to stop the rebellion by dispatching troops.
At this point, Zavala's hope was to overthrow the existing Mexican government and restore Mexico to a democracy and to have Texas be one of the Mexican states. Despite orders from López de Santa Anna for Zavala to be captured and deported from Texas, Zavala was never in real danger—he had become a valuable ally with influential Texans seeking independence. Zavala personally helped write the new constitution and served as vice president under the provisional government. While working, the delegates received a message that the Alamo was under siege. After the Alamo fell, López de Santa Anna's forces were soon advancing on the delegation, forcing them to flee. When López de Santa Anna's troops approached Zavala's Point, Zavala and his family fled down the San Jacinto River to the home of William Scott, one of the Empressario Grant colonists. A number of families awaited there for a steamer to take them to safety on Galveston Island. Nearby, in Harris County, López de Santa Anna's army faced Texas General Sam Houston's forces on April 21, 1836 at the Battle of San Jacinto. López de Santa Anna was defeated and captured.
A few months after this, Zavala's health began to fail. He resigned his office of vice president on October 17, 1836 and returned home. Less than a month after his resignation, he was boating in Buffalo Bayou when his rowboat overturned and he was chilled. Zavala developed pneumonia and died at his home on November 15, 1836. He was buried in a small cemetery plot at his home.
Zavala was one of the key people that helped establish the York Rite Masonry in Mexico in 1826 as an alternative to the older, well established Scottish rite (Escocés). That same year the Grand Lodge of New York issued charters to five Masonic Lodges in Mexico City. These five lodges became the nucleus of the movement that favored decentralization of leadership. Zavala became the Charter Master of Independencia Lodge No. 454. He kept his position until his exile in 1830. He is listed as a "Masonic Hero" by the Grand Lodge of Texas.
Some sources state that Zavala was disgraced for revealing ritual secrets. Biographer Francisco Sosa wrote that Zavala ceased to be Mexican when he became a representative for Harrisburg, and that "what he did after [voting for Texan independence] was but a consequence of that step taken in a moment of blindness caused by a political hatred which had hurled him into an abyss." Zavala’s criticisms against Santa Anna were influential for the founders of the Texas Revolution. Texas Revolutionaries used Zavala’s ideas to describe their new nation.
The town of Zavala, Texas was named for him in Jasper County in 1834. The town no longer exists, but there is a village about 20 miles away in Angelina County named Zavalla (spelled differently) which is also named for Lorenzo de Zavala. In 1858, 22 years after Zavala's death, the Texas Legislature named Zavala County in his honor. Zavala County is in southern Texas, and sits roughly in a triangle formed by Del Rio, Laredo, and San Antonio. The county seat is Crystal City. When the name was given, it was misspelled as "Zavalla" and the error was not officially corrected until 71 years later (1929). Currently, his name appears on many public buildings and schools, including the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in Austin. The National Hispanic Institute named its Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session program (colloquially known as the "LDZ," now hosted at five universities across the U.S. and one in Panama) for him.
Texas Historical Commission Sites
In 1936, the Texas Historical Commission acknowledged the 1835 Harrisburg settlement of Lorenzo de Zavalla with a Texas Centennial Marker made of gray granite with a bronze inscription.
In 1968, the Texas Historical Commission established a historical marker at the De Zavala Elementary School in Southeast Houston. The supplemental commemorative plaque preserves an inscription regarding the passage of Texas historical sites at the San Jacinto State Historic Landmark.
Namesakes
Schools
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Baytown, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, San Marcos, Texas
- De Zavala Elementary, Channelview, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Crystal City, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Dallas, Texas
- Zavala Elementary School, El Paso, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Fort Worth, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Grand Prairie, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Harlingen Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Houston, Texas (Magnolia Park Neighborhood
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, Midland, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, San Antonio, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School, Amarillo, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School, Irving, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School, La Joya, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Environmental Science Academy, Grand Prairie, Texas
- Zavala Elementary School, Austin, Texas
Other things named for Lorenzo de Zavala
- Zavala County, Texas
- De Zavala Rd, a major thoroughfare in San Antonio, Texas
- Lorenzo De Zavala Lodge #1397, Masonic Lodge, Houston, Texas
- City of Zavalla, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Austin, Texas
- Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session, National Hispanic Institute (with programs in San Antonio, Texas; Rochester, New York; San Diego, California; Fort Collins, Colorado; Joliet, Illinois; and Panama City, Panama)
- Zavala Hispanic Cultural Initiative (Non-Profit organization promoting education, art and culture in Wichita Falls, Texas)
- Lorenzo de Zavala middle school in Amarillo, Texas