From the Annals of Anglo-American Relations – In 1842, Charles Elliot arrived in Galveston as the newly appointed British charge d’affaires to the Republic of Texas.  Elliot, a British knight and retired naval officer, was a veteran of the Colonial Service previously serving in Guiana and China. In 1842 he was reassigned to hardly desirable duties in the Republic of Texas.  But Elliot made the best of the situation.  While in  Texas he worked for the abolition of slavery, free trade and peace with Mexico. He was friends with Sam Houston and Anson Jones, and worked with the British ambassador to Mexico for an armistice between Texas and Mexico in 1843. He was instrumental in negotiating the release of prisoners from the ill-fated Mier expedition. He opposed Texas annexation by the United States.  When Texans voted for annexation he was recalled.