List of Mexican governors of New Mexico

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Mexican Governor of New Mexico
Bandera Histórica de la República Mexicana (1824-1918).svg
ResidenceSanta Fe
AppointerEmperor of Mexico (1822–1823)
President of Mexico (1823–1846)
PrecursorSpanish Governors of New Mexico
FormationJanuary 1822; 200 years ago (1822-01)
First holderFacundo Melgares
Final holderJuan Bautista Vigil y Alarid
AbolishedSeptember 1846; 175 years ago (1846-09)
SuccessionMilitary Governors of New Mexico (U.S.)
Political divisions of the Centralist Republic of Mexico, ca. 1836–1846

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.

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]

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
1837 1844 Manuel Armijo Second term
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 Chavéz 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[]

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Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
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Flag of Mexico.svgMexico
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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.
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