Thomas William Ward

Ward was a soldier and politician. He was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1807 and worked for his father, a builder, before immigrating to New Orleans finding work as a carpenter. He joined the fight for Texas independence as a member of the New Orleans Grays and fought at the siege of Bexar, where he lost a leg from cannon fire. He recuperated back in New Orleans and obtained a prosthesis that earned him the nickname “Peg Leg,” and returned to Texas to complete his service, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Ward lived briefly in Houston and built the first capital building there before moving to Austin in 1839 where he was elected mayor. His term was cut short when he lost an arm to a cannon ball fired during Independence Day celebrations. In 1841 he was appointed as the Texas Land Commissioner, a post he held for seven years. His tenure is noted for his efforts to reform and professionalize the office and prevent land fraud, which was rampant. In 1852 he was elected as mayor of Austin again but like the first time, he did not complete his term when he accepted an appointment as the US ambassador to Panama. He was elected mayor of Austin again in 1864 and served the city during the chaotic times at the end of the Civil War. His last public service role was as a federal customs official in Corpus Christi. He died in Austin in 1872.