REST API to create Stellar account? In the REST API documentation, I didn't see an option to create an account. Obviously then, the code snippet here to create an account has to be front-ended by some other API so that a request to create an account can be catered to. I am not sure why this is so. Is there a HTTP POST REST API to create an account?

Also, normally, to build a REST interface, one starts with identifying all 'resources' whose state changes over time and can be changed in a state-less operation. Then, for every such resource, the CRUD operations are implemented. For example, in Stellar, the resources could be account, anchor, trustlines, transactions, etc.
There is no REST endpoint to create an account. An account is implicitly created after receiving at least 20 lumens. 

To create an account: 


Generate a private/public keypair. You can use the Stellar Laboratory Account Creator for that. 
Get at least 20 lumens, either from an exchange or through another account, sent to the public key you just created. 


That's it.

Official guide : https://www.stellar.org/developers/guides/get-started/create-account.html