A land agent who brought new settlers to an area is called a

• A. Missionary
• B. Empresario
• C. Surveyor
• D. Cattleman

Answer: (B)

An empresario is a land agent who organized and promoted settlements for a region, working with the government to attract families to Texas. In the 1820s, Mexico granted colonization contracts to empresarios who would recruit settlers, arrange their transport, and establish colonies in exchange for land. Stephen F. Austin is the famous example, whose colony brought many settlers and helped form early Texas towns. This role differs from a missionary, who runs religious missions; a surveyor, who measures land; or a cattleman, who raises cattle. So, the land agent who brought new settlers is called an empresario.