Gonzales, capital city of the DeWitt Colony, was named in honor of Rafael Gonzales, Governor of the Mexican state of Coahuila Y Tejas.
Gonzales was born in San Fernando de Béxar in 1789. He trained as a military cadet and, as a second lieutenant, was stationed to the presidio at Monclova (Coahuila) in 1814. A career military officer, he risked his career by joining the Mexican independence movement in July 1821, where he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
After Mexico won its independence, he served as governor of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas from August 1824 until March 1826. It was during his tenure as governor that DeWitt won his contract as empresario of the DeWitt Colony.
