Juan Seguin
Seguin Elementary School
Juan Nepomuceno Seguín was a Tejano hero of the Texas Revolution. As a teenager in Mexico, he had a strong interest in politics. He was very critical of his contemporary Mexican leader, Antonio López de Santa Anna, and gladly joined the Texas Revolution to rid Texas of Santa Anna's rule. He led a band of 25 Tejanos who favored a revolt and fought on the Texan side at the Battle of the Alamo. Because Seguín spoke only Spanish, he was chosen to carry the message through lines that the Texans "shall never surrender or retreat." Seguín got the message to the other soldiers on the Texan side. He returned to the Alamo, but it had already fallen to Santa Anna's army. Seguin later commanded an infantry company and fought at the Battle of San Jacinto. In 1839, Seguin was elected to the Texas Senate and became mayor of San Antonio in 1841.