The word maverick is used as a common noun in the United States to refer to an independent-minded person. On the other hand, it is very rare that we use it as a first name, even more so in Europe. It was popularized by Samuel Maverick, who between his birth in South Carolina on July 23, 1803 and his death on September 2, 1870 in Texas, became famous in the USA.
Son of a merchant and industrialist, Samuel Maverick was put in charge of a plantation in Alabama in his youth, but, having little appreciation of slavery, preferred to go to Texas. He purchased immense land in this place which belonged to Mexico, before he and other settlers were attacked by the troops of President Antonio López de Santa Anna. Samuel Maverick took refuge with a few settlers in the Fort Alamo, while others signed the Texas Declaration of Independence in San Antonio. The defenders of the Alamo dispatched him to request reinforcements at the convention of the signers, which he did, but when the reinforcements arrived at The Alamo, the defenders were all dead.
In 1939, Maverick wanted to sell his 4-acre (605-hectare) Texas land plots, but realized that few people were interested in them. He then obtained a law degree and entered politics, being elected mayor of San Antonio. It was not an easy position, because it mainly consisted of commanding the militia which fought against the raids of the comanche.
San Antonio was then captured by the Mexicans, which cost Maverick and his three months of forced march to Veracruz. Despite his imprisonment, he was elected by the citizens of San Antonio to represent them in the Texas Congress. After his release, he increased his land capital to 46 acres (18 hectares) in Bexar County. In the Civil War that followed, he found himself on the losing side.
But why did the name Maverick become famous? In the immense meadows which supported gigantic herds of cattle, Samuel Maverick was the only one whose the beasts never bore any mark. He refused to do so so as not to inflict unnecessary suffering on the animals. This is the reason why in the United States now the word "maverick" designates both an animal without markings and a human being with an independent spirit.
And so on January 12, 1995, when Mr. Viñales went to the Civil Registry of Figueres, in the north of Catalonia, when the employee asked him what was the name chosen for his just-born son, he replied “ Maverick Vinales ».
