Michel Branamour Menard was born in Canada, on December 5, 1805. A French Canadian, he was a trader who moved to Nacogdoches, Texas in 1832, and represented Liberty County at the Convention of 1836. Although Menard believed Texas independence was impractical, he signed the Texas Declaration of Texas, bowing to majority. In 1836, Menard also co-founded Galveston. Later, from 1840 to 1841, he served as a representative to the Texas Congress. Becoming a cotton salesman, Menard then settled in Galveston, where he lived until his death on September 5, 1856.