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
Residence	Santa Fe
Appointer	Emperor of Mexico (1822–1823) President of Mexico (1823–1846)
Precursor	Spanish Governors of New Mexico
Formation	January 1822 (1822-01)
First holder	Facundo Melgares
Final holder	Juan Bautista Vigil y Alarid
Abolished	September 1846 (1846-09)
Succession	Military 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). 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. 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.

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.

Political chiefs and governors

The political chiefs (géfe políticos) or governors were:

Start	End	Name	Notes
January 1822	July 1822	Facundo Melgares
July 1822	November 1822	Francisco Xavier Chávez
November 1822	September 1823	José Antonio Vizcarra
August 1823	September 1825	Bartolomé Baca
September 1825	May 1827	Antonio Narbona
1827	1829	Manuel Armijo	First term
September 1829	1832	José Antonio Chaves
1832	1833	Santiago Abreú
1833	14 May 1835	Francisco Sarracino
July 1835	August 1837	Albino Pérez	Assassinated in office during the Río Arriba Rebellion
10 August 1837	September 1837	José María González	Elected to lead the Junta Popular during the Río Arriba Rebellion. From Taos Pueblo, only Pueblo Indian elected Governor of New Mexico.
Early September 1837	21 September 1837	Pablo Montoya	Alcalde of Taos Pueblo, signed armistice with Armijo ending the Río Arriba Rebellion.
21 September 1837	1844	Manuel Armijo	Second term, after defeating the Río Arriba Rebellion. Executed José María González.
31 January 1844	10 April 1844	Mariano Chaves	Acting; son of Francisco Xavier Chávez
13 April 1844	29 April 1844	Felipe Sena	Acting
29 April 1844	1845	Mariano Martínez de Lejanza
1 May 1845	16 November 1845	José Chávez y Castillo	Acting; son of Francisco Xavier Chávez
November 1845	August 1846	Manuel Armijo	Third term
August 1846	September 1846	Juan Bautista Vigil y Alarid	Interim

See also

• History of New Mexico
  • List of Spanish governors of New Mexico (1598–1822)
  • List of U.S. governors of New Mexico (1846–present)

References

Citations

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.