Texas Legation Plaque

A Republic Seeking Recognition Across the Atlantic

When Texas declared independence in 1836, the fledgling republic faced existential threats from Mexico and the United States. To secure its survival, Texas established diplomatic legations in three major capitals: Washington D.C., London, and Paris. The London legation, housed above Berry Bros. & Rudd wine merchants at 4 St. James's Street, operated from 1842 to 1845 under the direction of Dr. Ashbel Smith, who served as chargé d'affaires to both England and France. This modest location, situated steps from St. James's Palace where foreign ambassadors were formally received, placed Texan representatives at the heart of British diplomatic circles. The strategic choice of London reflected Texas's calculated approach to survival. Britain viewed an independent Texas as a potential counterweight to American expansion and agreed to accept Texan goods into British ports, though it never formally recognized the republic as a sovereign nation. The British government even offered to guarantee Texas's borders against both American and Mexican incursion, and later proposed subsidizing the abolition of slavery in Texas—an offer that Dr. Smith rejected, believing it would compromise Texas's national dignity. These diplomatic overtures, while supportive, ultimately proved insufficient to sustain the republic's independence.

The Building and Its Curious Tenants

Berry Bros. & Rudd, the wine merchant occupying the ground floor, has served British royalty since 1698 and remains one of London's most venerable establishments. The Georgian building at 4 St. James's Street, constructed in 1730, conceals two acres of wine cellars beneath St. James's Street and has housed an extraordinary array of occupants throughout its history—from a brothel and notorious gambling den to the site of London's last public duel. The Texan legation occupied the upper floors, creating an unusual pairing of diplomatic mission and prestigious wine shop. When Texas joined the United States in 1845, the legation closed abruptly, leaving behind an unpaid rent bill of £160—a debt that would remain outstanding for over a century.

A Plaque Erected and a Debt Repaid

The Texas Legation Plaque was erected in 1963 by the Anglo-Texan Society, founded in 1953 with author Graham Greene as a founding member. Sir Alfred Bossom, a former Member of Parliament with extensive Texas connections, spearheaded the effort. The plaque's unveiling ceremony, attended by Texas Governor Price Daniel Sr., Greene, and Tony Berry of Berry Bros. & Rudd, marked a revival of interest in this forgotten chapter of Texas history. The brass plaque, bearing the seal of the Republic of Texas at its top, reads: "Texas Legation. In this building was the legation for the ministers from the Republic of Texas to the Court of St. James 1842-1845. Erected by the Anglo-Texan Society." In a remarkable gesture of historical reckoning, 26 members of the Anglo-Texan Society traveled to London in 1986 to commemorate the Texas sesquicentennial. Dressed in full buckskins, they settled the 141-year-old rent debt with Berry Bros. & Rudd, paying the £160 obligation using Republic of Texas banknotes. The wine merchant honored the occasion by launching a commemorative bourbon whiskey. This whimsical repayment transformed the plaque from a mere historical marker into a symbol of enduring Texan pride and the republic's persistent place in the collective memory.

A Hidden Gem in London's Diplomatic Landscape

Today, the plaque remains tucked in the entrance to Pickering Place, a narrow passageway to the left of Berry Bros. & Rudd on St. James's Street. Few passersby notice this modest brass marker, yet it tells a story of ambition, diplomacy, and the brief moment when Texas stood as a sovereign nation on the world stage. The location's proximity to St. James's Palace and its position within one of London's most historic quarters underscore the legation's importance during its operational years. While the Republic of Texas lasted only nine years before annexation, its diplomatic presence in London remains etched into the fabric of this corner of Westminster.