Moses Austin (October 4, 1761–June 10, 1821) is best known for his efforts in the American lead industry and as the father of Stephen F. Austin. October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1761 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (162nd in leap years), with 204 days remaining. ... The coronation banquet for George IV 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish white Atomic mass 207. ... Stephen F. Austin Stephen Fuller Austin (November 3, 1793 – December 27, 1836), known as the Father of Texas, led the Anglo-American colonization of the region. ...

Early life

Moses was born in Durham, Connecticut, moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1784 to enter the drygoods business with his brother Stephen. In 1795 he married into the affluent iron mining family of Mary Brown. Moses sought to start his own mining of ore in southwestern Virginia and soon the tiny village around the mines was called Austinville. He and Mary's second child survived and they named him Stephen Fuller in 1793 in honor of his father's brother and his mother's great uncle. Their daughter Emily soon followed in 1795, followed in turn by James Elijah Brown in 1803. Durham is a town located in Middlesex County, Connecticut. ... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ...

Businessman

After his lead business lead to near bankruptcy, Moses looked towards the rich lead deposits in upper Spanish Louisiana (Missouri). In December of 1796 Moses and another man traveled to investigate the Spanish mines. In 1798 the Spanish Crown granted to Moses one-league (4,428 acre) and he moved his family from Austinville on 8 June 1798. He built his home, Durham Hall, an imposing southern-style mansion, in Potosi, and developed the lead mining in Mine á Breton. The territorial governor William Henry Harrison appointed Moses to a judgeship and he served as an officer in the local militia. Potosi is a city located in Washington County, Missouri. ... The Lead Belt is a lead mining district in the southeastern part of Missouri. ... William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773 – April 4, 1841) was an American military leader, politician, and the ninth President of the United States, (1841). ...

In 1808, he founded the town of Herculaneum on the Mississippi River, building a lead smelter there. Moses joined a group of St. Louis businessmen who wanted to establish the embattled Bank of St. Louis. They were granted a charter but failed to raise the capital to commence business. It wasn't until 1816 that the bank doors were finally opened. In 1813 petitioned the territorial legislature to create the county of Washington and to locate the county seat at Potosi. 1808 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Herculaneum is a city located in Jefferson County, Missouri. ... The Mississippi River, derived from the old Ojibwe word misi-ziibi meaning great river (gichi-ziibi big river at its headwaters), is the longest river in the United States; the second-longest is the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi. ...

The War of 1812 and the panic of 1819 left Moses financially ruined forever Combatants United States Native Americans United Kingdom Canadian colonial forces Native Americans Native Canadians Commanders James Madison Winfield Scott Andrew Jackson Isaac Brock George Prevost Tecumseh† Strength •U.S. Regular Army: 35,800 •Rangers: 3,049 •Militia: 458,463* •US Navy & US Marines: (at start of war): •Frigates:3 •Other... The Panic of 1819 was the first major financial crisis in the United States. ...

 On 11 March 1820, Moses was arrested at his house for his nonpayments on his debts. He was jailed only a short while, but he was forced to sell at auction his Mine á Breton estate. 

Notes

Moses Austin and his wife are entombed at the public cemetery in Potosi, Missouri.

References

• Haley, James L. "Texas An Album of History", Doubleday & Co., ISBN 0-385-17307-5
• Haley, James L.;"Passionate Nation-The Epic History of Texas';Free Press; ISBN 10-0-684-86291-3
• Cantrell, Gregg; Stephen F. Austin-Empesario of Texas; Yale University Press; ISBN 0-300-09093-5
• Moses Austin from the Handbook of Texas Online