Mariano Martínez de Lejarza

Mariano Martínez de Lejarza was acting Governor of the territory of Santa Fe de Nuevo México (in present-day New Mexico) from 1844 to 1845.[1]

Mariano Martínez de Lejarza
14th Mexican Governor of New Mexico
In office
April 29, 1844 – 1845
Preceded byFelipe Sena
Succeeded byJosé Chavéz y Castillo
Personal details
BornMexico City
ProfessionSoldier and politician

Career

Martínez was a native of the State of Mexico.[2] He spent most of his career in Chihuahua, and in October 1843 was appointed by General Mariano Monterde military commandant in Santa Fe.[3] Martínez held the rank of brevet Brigadier General.[4] He was appointed governor on 30 March 1844 and took office on 29 April.[5] He initiated various improvements in Santa Fe, for example planting trees on the plaza de armas and along the street and road leading northwest to the Rosario chapel, with a ditch to provide water for them.[6] He also converted the plaza into a bullfight arena, with stalls for spectators.[7] He also borrowed a press so he could start publishing a newspaper.[6]

New Mexico was a province of Mexico until 30 December 1836. It then became a department, with a departmental legislature in Santa Fe and representation in the Departmental Congress in Durango. On 17 June 1844 Governor Martínez divided the department into three districts, Central, North and Southeast. Each district was in turn divided into seven counties. The population of the entire department at that time, including Pueblo Indians, was 67,736.[8]

At one time during his term as governor, Martínez received some Ute delegates in Santa Fe. The discussion became heated, and Martínez called the guards, who killed some of the Utes. This eventually led to a full-scale war with the Utes.[9] He was removed from office early in 1845. Martinez was succeeded by José Chávez y Castillo, who was provisional governor from 1 May 1845 to 16 November 1845.[10]

References
Citations
  1. Bancroft 1888, p. 254.
  2. Chávez 1981, p. 66.
  3. Reséndez 2005, p. 243.
  4. Twitchell 1917.
  5. Webb 1995, p. 69.
  6. Chávez 1981, p. 68.
  7. McCulloch 2001, p. 78-79.
  8. Keleher 1951, p. 112.
  9. Reséndez 2005, p. 244.
  10. Webb 1995, p. 136.
Sources
  • Bancroft, Hubert Howe (1888). History of the Pacific States of North America: Arizona and New Mexico. A.L. Bancroft & Company. p. 254. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  • Chávez, Angélico (1981). But Time and Chance: The Story of Padre Martínez of Taos, 1793-1867. Sunstone Press. ISBN 978-0-913270-95-0. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  • Keleher, William Aloysius (1951). Turmoil in New Mexico. William Keleher. ISBN 978-0-8263-0632-6. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  • McCulloch, Frank (2001-12-01). Revolution and Rebellion, How Taxes Cost a Governor His Life in 1830s New Mexico. Sunstone Press. ISBN 978-0-86534-340-5. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  • Reséndez, Andrés (2005). Changing National Identities at the Frontier: Texas and New Mexico, 1800-1850. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-54319-4. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  • Twitchell, R. E. (1917). "San Miguel County". The Leading Facts of New Mexico History. Vol. IV. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  • Webb, James Josiah (1995-05-28). Adventures in the Santa Fé Trade, 1844-1847. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-9772-2. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
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