Coryell County was formed from Bell County, created on February 4, 1854, and organized on March 4, 1854. It was named in honor of James Coryell, who was born in Tennessee in 1796, was a member of the Bowie Expedition to the old San Saba Silver Mines in 1831, and was a Texas Ranger killed by Indians near Fort Milam on May 27, 1837. The county seat was Fort Gates in 1854 and has been Gatesville since then.