Robert L. Foard, for whom the county was named, was a Texas Confederate officer born in 1831 and died in 1898. He came to Texas from Maryland in 1853 and became a prominent pioneer lawyer and citizen. In 1861 he served as lieutenant of the Columbus Grays Texas Militia Company, then as a Confederate major in the 13th Texas Infantry Regiment, which successfully guarded part of the Texas coast against raiding parties from Union blockading vessels. In 1863 the 13th was stationed for seven weeks at Brashear City, Louisiana, as part of the campaign to prevent the South from being split by the loss of the Mississippi River, then returned to coast duty until the war's end.