Revised sketch for the Texas flag

Following the skirmish at Gonzales that marked the beginning of the Texas Revolution, the newly established provisional government sent three commissioners — Stephen Austin, William Wharton, and Branch Archer — to the United States in November 1835 to secure funding and recognition for Texas. As they traveled, they sketched this flag design for consideration as the new Texas flag.

The design is a revision of a flag initially suggested by Austin. His original design featured an English Jack in the canton to indicate the British origins of the North American people, with green and white stripes and a red star to represent Mexico. Archer and Wharton drew over Austin's design, adding a motto and replacing the star with a flaming sun and a medallion of George Washington.

Neither version of the flag was adopted by the Republic. Instead, a large gold star on a blue field was approved on December 10, 1836. Twenty-five months later, the "Lone Star" flag we know today became the official flag of the Republic of Texas. The design was retained as the official flag of the State of Texas when it joined the United States in 1846.

Read the full transcription of Austin, Archer, and Wharton's notations on this design from the Texas State Library and Archives.