List of Mexican governors of New Mexico

Mexican governors of New Mexico were the political chief executives of the province and later territory of Santa Fe de Nuevo México (New Mexico) between 1822, when Mexico gained independence from Spain, and 1846, when the United States occupied the territory following the Mexican–American War. It was succeeded as a territory of the United States, and as the U.S. state of New Mexico.

Mexican Governor of New Mexico
Flag of the Centralist Republic of Mexico
ResidenceSanta Fe
AppointerEmperor of Mexico (1822–1823)
President of Mexico (1823–1846)
PrecursorSpanish Governors of New Mexico
FormationJanuary 1822 (1822-01)
First holderFacundo Melgares
Final holderJuan Bautista Vigil y Alarid
AbolishedSeptember 1846 (1846-09)
SuccessionMilitary Governors of New Mexico (U.S.)
Political divisions of the Centralist Republic of Mexico, ca. 1836–1846

History

In January 1822 the last Governor under the Spanish regime, Facundo Melgares, lost the title of governor and was now called géfe político (political chief) and géfe militar (military chief).[1] Melgáres left the political office on July 5, 1822, and Francisco Xavier Chavez took his place, holding office for just five months, when he was succeeded in November 1822 by Colonel José Antonio Vizcarra. Vizcarra had succeeded Melgáres as géfe militar in October 1822.[2] In September 1823, a retired Militia Captain named Don Bartolomé Baca was appointed géfe politico. Eleven more men were to serve as either géfe político or governor before the occupation of New Mexico in 1846 by the United States Army during the Mexican–American War.[3]

New Mexico was at first a province of the Estado interno del Norte, with capital in Chihuahua. As of July 6, 1824, New Mexico was made a separate territory, with El Paso del Norte (now called Ciudad Juárez) transferred from New Mexico to the State of Chihuahua.[4]

Political chiefs and governors

The political chiefs (géfe políticos) or governors were:[5]

StartEndNameNotes
January 1822July 1822Facundo Melgares
July 1822November 1822Francisco Xavier Chávez
November 1822September 1823José Antonio Vizcarra
August 1823September 1825Bartolomé Baca
September 1825May 1827Antonio Narbona
18271829Manuel ArmijoFirst term
September 18291832José Antonio Chaves
18321833Santiago Abreú
183314 May 1835Francisco Sarracino
July 1835August 1837Albino PérezAssassinated in office during the Río Arriba Rebellion
10 August 1837September 1837José María GonzálezElected to lead the Junta Popular during the Río Arriba Rebellion. From Taos Pueblo, only Pueblo Indian elected Governor of New Mexico.
Early September 183721 September 1837Pablo MontoyaAlcalde of Taos Pueblo, signed armistice with Armijo ending the Río Arriba Rebellion.
21 September 18371844Manuel ArmijoSecond term, after defeating the Río Arriba Rebellion. Executed José María González.
31 January 184410 April 1844Mariano ChavesActing; son of Francisco Xavier Chávez
13 April 184429 April 1844Felipe SenaActing
29 April 18441845Mariano Martínez de Lejanza
1 May 184516 November 1845José Chavéz y CastilloActing; son of Francisco Xavier Chávez
November 1845August 1846Manuel ArmijoThird term
August 1846September 1846Juan Bautista Vigil y AlaridInterim

See also

References
Citations
  1. Twitchell 2007, p. 185.
  2. Twitchell 2007, p. 189.
  3. Twitchell 2007, p. 191.
  4. Sisneros 2012.
  5. New Mexico Governors.
Sources
  • "New Mexico Governors". State of New Mexico – Commission of Public Records ~ State Records Center and Archives. Archived from the original on 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
  • Sisneros, Samuel (2012). "Juan Bautista Vigil y Alarid (1792-1866): Last Mexican Governor of New Mexico". New Mexico State Record Center and Archives. Archived from the original on 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  • Twitchell, Ralph Emerson (2007-05-30). Old Santa Fe. Sunstone Press. ISBN 978-0-86534-574-4. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
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