Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar (August 16, 1798 – December 19, 1859) was an American attorney, politician, poet, and leading political figure during the Texas Republic era.

He was known for waging war against bands of Cherokee and Comanche peoples to push them out of Texas, and for establishing a fund to support public education.

Lamar was born in 1798 in Louisville, Georgia, as the second eldest of nine siblings, growing up at Fairfield, his father's cotton plantation near Milledgeville, then the state capital.

[2] The elder brother, Lucius, was named for the Roman statesman Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus; the younger, Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, for French heroes Napoleon Bonaparte and Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau.

In 1823, Lamar's family connections helped him to gain a position as the private secretary to the newly elected Georgia Governor George M. Troup.

In this position, Lamar issued press releases and toured the state, giving speeches on behalf of the governor.

[6] On the eve of the battle, Lamar courageously rescued two surrounded Texians, an act that drew a salute from the Mexican lines.

Houston noted in his battle report: "Our cavalry, 61 in number, commanded by Mirabeau B. Lamar, (whose gallant and daring conduct on the previous day, had attracted the admiration of his comrades and called him to that station), placed on our right, completed our line.

"[11] After Texas achieved independence from Mexico, Lamar was appointed as the Secretary of War in the interim Texian government.

Lamar, the unanimous choice as the nominee of the Democratic Party for the president to succeed Houston, was elected.

[12] Houston talked for three hours in his farewell address, "which so unnerved Lamar that he was unable to read his inaugural speech.

The Texians and Rangers who attacked the tribes were fully armed, while the Indians had an estimated 16–24 rifles and pistols.

Before the attack, Duwali, Gatunwali, Big Mush, and other chiefs and leaders asked for time to gather their crops, then they would go in peace, but Lamar would not wait.

Lamar ordered Secretary of War Albert Sidney Johnston and General Thomas J. Rusk to run them out of Texas.

After two months of debate, they recommended the small town of Waterloo, along the Colorado River toward the center of the state.

Lamar failed to gain official recognition for Texas from Great Britain, France, and Belgium; it always eluded the would-be nation.

To fill the treasury, he authorized issuance of a large amount of Republic of Texas paper money, known as Redbacks.

Spending doubled during Lamar's term, and combined with the worthless currency, caused financial difficulties for the government.

During his administration, he convinced the legislature to set aside three leagues of land in each county to be devoted to school development.

In 1857, President James Buchanan appointed Lamar as the Minister to Nicaragua, and a few months later to Costa Rica.