John Coffee Hays

John Coffee "Jack" Hays was a military officer from the United States. Hays, a captain in the Texas Rangers and a Republic of Texas military commander, fought in various armed confrontations from 1836 to 1848, notably against the Comanche Empire in Texas and during the Mexican-American War. Hays moved to the Republic of Texas in 1836, when he was 19 years old. Sam Houston assigned him to a company of Texas Rangers because he knew the Hays family from his time in Tennessee. In the years that followed, Hays led the Rangers on a campaign against the Comanche in Texas, successfully reducing their influence.

Later, Hays was in charge of the soldiers defending against the 1842 invasion from Mexico. Hays organized six companies throughout Texas' northern and western frontiers while commanding the First Regiment of Texas Rangers during the Battle of Monterrey during the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). He later oversaw the Second Texas Rangers Regiment during Winfield Scott's assault in Mexico City. The Rangers performed admirably during this battle, earning them widespread reputation. The Navy Colt Paterson five-shot revolver was originally used by Hays. He hurried Samuel Walker and Samuel Colt's meeting, which resulted in the creation of the renowned Colt Walker six-shot revolver used in the Old West.