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Born in San Antonio, Colonel José Francisco Ruiz was one of two native Texan signatories of the Texas Declaration of Independence. A former Mexican Army officer, Ruiz had fought against Spain during the Mexican War of Independence. Then, in the 1830s, he risked everything again to liberate Texas. After Santa Anna’s defeat, Ruiz became San Antonio's senator in the first Texas Congress. He died in 1840, having guided Texas from colonial possession to independent republic. More»