William Barrett Travis

Meet the twenty-six-year-old lawyer who commanded Texas' most famous garrison for thirteen incredible days and penned the words, "I shall never retreat or surrender-victory or death."

William Barrett Travis is the first scholarly biography of the legendary Alamo commander. Historian Archie P. McDonald treats his subject not merely as a god-like hero, but as the complete human being that he was. The result is an in-depth study that searches for an understanding of Travis' character and multifaceted personality. The result is an exciting and entertaining, but above all contemplative analysis of Travis and the Texas War for Independence.

Auteur

McDonald received his primary and secondary education in Texas schools, his Bachelor of Science degree from Lamar University in Beaumont, his Master of Arts degree from Rice University in Houston, and his doctorate from Louisiana State University. His dissertation on Jedediah Hotchkiss, Stonewall Jackson's topographer, later published as Make Me a Map of the Valley, was a Civil War History Book Club selection, and was named to the Civil War Times Illustrated's list of the one hundred best book on the Civil War. In addition to teaching and writing, McDonald served as executive director of the East Texas Historical Association and as editor of its journal. He was also a past president of the Texas State Historical Association, served as chairman of the Texas Committee for the Humanities, a member of the advisory board for the National Registry of the Texas Historical Commission, and was member of the Texas Sesquicentennial Commission.