John Kirby Allen

Marker in Downtown Houston commemorating the foundation of Houston by the Allen Brothers – An excerpt from the Telegraph & Texas Register dated August 30, 1836, is visible. John Kirby Allen (1810 – August 15, 1838) was a co-founder of the city of Houston and a former member of the Republic of Texas House of Representatives. He was born in Canaseraga Village, New York (the present-day hamlet of Sullivan in the Town of Sullivan, New York). He never married. He died of congestive fever on August 15, 1838, and was buried at Founders Memorial Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Early years When he was seven years old, John took his first job as a hotel porter in a hotel in Orrville (present-day DeWitt, New York).

In Texas The Allen brothers arrived first in Galveston, Texas and then moved to the small town of San Augustine. In 1833, John Allen and his brother associated with a group of entrepreneurs in Nacogdoches and started operating a business as land speculators.

During the Texas Revolution Instead of joining the army when the Texas Revolution started, John and his brother kept supply channels open. At their own expense, they outfitted a ship, the Brutus, to protect the Texas coast and assist troops and supplies from the United States to arrive safely in Texas. He was elected in September, and officially began his term on October 3. There, he served on the president's staff with the rank of major. During this political service, John and his brother Augustus founded the city of Houston. He also continued to operate a shipping business during this time, along with his partner, James Pinckney Henderson.

Legacy

Several Houston landmarks, including Allen Parkway, Allen Center, and Allen's Landing Park, immortalize the names of the city's founders.

He is buried at Founders Memorial Cemetery along with his mother and father as well as most of his siblings.