Who was Henri Castro in terms of Texas history?
Henri Castro was born in 1786 in the department of Landes, France to a prominent Jewish family whose ancestry was Portuguese. As a young man he was chosen to greet Napolean in his hometown, and he later served in Napoleon’s Guard. He was married to Amelia Mathias in 1813. His adventurous spirit took him to the New World in the late 1820’s when he was appointed French consul at Providence, Rhode Island. He quickly learned English and several years later he became an American citizen. He was successful in obtaining a land grant in February 1842 from Sam Houston and the Texas government. The grant promised him more than a million acres of land if he would introduce at least 600 families and/or single men within three years. Each colonist would receive 640 acres (or 320 if single) if they built a cabin, cultivated at least fifteen acres, and resided on the property for three years. Castro energetically recruited colonists in France, having the most success in the Rhenish provinces, especia
