Athanase de Mezieres

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Athanase de Mézières y Clugny (March 26, 1719 – November 2, 1779) was a French nobleman, soldier, explorer, and diplomat who later served Spain. He began as an infantry officer in the French colony of Louisiana and rose to captain. When Louisiana passed to Spain in 1763, Mézières offered his services to the Spanish government. In 1769 he was named Lieutenant Governor of Natchitoches and spent years traveling between Louisiana and Texas as a Spanish diplomat. He learned many languages, including Latin, French, Spanish, and several Native American languages.

Mézières helped negotiate treaties with Native American groups such as the Kichais, Tawakonis, Taovayas, and Tonkawas during his Red River expeditions. In 1778 the Spanish governor of Louisiana, Bernardo de Gálvez, appointed him to improve diplomacy in Texas and to form alliances against enemies like the Apache. On the road between Los Adaes and Nacogdoches, he was badly injured in a fall from his horse, but he continued his work and reached San Antonio in September 1779. He was named Governor of Texas, but died on November 2, 1779, before taking office.

He left nine children—one from his first wife, and eight from his second. He was born Athanase de Mézières y Clugny, the son of Louis Christophe de Mézières and Marie Antoinette Clugny. He first married Marie Petronille Feliciane de St. Denis (who died in 1747) and later Pelagie Fazende.