Details for Santos Benavides

Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5479004589

Data

Marker Number 4589
Atlas Number 5479004589
Marker Title Santos Benavides
Index Entry Benavides, Santos
Address 3600 McPherson Rd.
City Laredo
County Webb
UTM Zone 14
UTM Easting 452355
UTM Northing 3045199
Subject Codes county official; local law enforcement officer; municipal official; state official; Civil War; Mexican War; military topics; Hispanic topics
Marker Year 1994
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark No
Marker Location Calvary Catholic Cemetery, SE corner of Section 8, about 500 feet E of McPherson Road and 250 feet S of E. Saunders St./Business 59/Lloyd Bentsen Highway
Private Property No
Marker Condition In Situ
Marker Size 27" x 42"
Marker Text Santos Benavides, son of Jose Jesus and Marguerita Benavides and great-great grandson of Laredo founder Tomas Sanchez, was born in Laredo on November 1, 1823. He married Augustina Villareal in 1842. Benavides, appointed procurador (administrative agent) of Laredo in 1843, openly cooperated with the forces of Mirabeau B. Lamar which occupied Laredo during the Mexican War (1846-48) in an effort to pacify the region. He was elected mayor of Laredo in 1856 and 1857 and chief justice of Webb County in 1859. During the Civil War Benavides raised a company of cavalry at Laredo which defeated Juan Cortina in the Battle of Carrizo in 1861. He became a colonel in command of his own regiment known as Benavides' Regiment. On March 19, 1864, his regiment successfully defended Laredo with only 42 men against a Union force of more than 200 men. During the late 1860s and 1870' Benavides engaged in mercantile and ranching activities with his brother Cristobal. He served in the Texas Legislature during the 1880s and in 1884 was appointed Texas Commissioner to the world's Cotton Exposition. Benavides helped found the Guarache party, a faction of Laredo's Democratic Party. He died in Laredo on November 9, 1891. Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845-1995

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