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The Second Texas Navy was established by President Mirabeau B. Lamar in 1838. Much like the Republic of Texas itself, the navy had a tumultuous existence, and spent most of its time caught in a power struggle between President Lamar and President Houston’s opposing military policies.

Most of the navy’s service was spent not defending Texas, but instead off the coast of the Yucatán. In 1841, Lamar formed an alliance with Yucatecan rebels who had also declared independence from Mexico, gambling that as long as the Yucatán was in rebellion, Mexican forces would concentrate on it instead of trying to retake Texas.

This was in line with Lamar’s aggressive military policy. However, the Texas Navy didn’t sail for Mexico until the very end of Lamar’s term, and a newly re-elected President Houston was not interested in continuing the alliance.

Despite the lack of support from their president, the Texas Navy’s time in Mexico was successful. During the Naval Battle of Campeche on May 16, 1843, the Texas Navy’s two remaining ships, the Austin and the Wharton, became the only sailing ships to defeat a steam-powered vessel. Houston, however, never changed his stance, and in early 1843, he appointed a commission to sell the Navy’s remaining two ships. They were ultimately saved, but kept in disrepair until Texas was annexed by the United States two years later.

The San Jacinto Museum has one of the largest collections of Texas Navy artifacts in the world.