| 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; 202 years ago (1822-01) |
| First holder | Facundo Melgares |
| Final holder | Juan Bautista Vigil y Alarid |
| Abolished | September 1846; 177 years ago (1846-09) |
| Succession | Military Governors of New Mexico (U.S.) |
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. stateofNew Mexico.
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]
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 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 | AlcaldeofTaos 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 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 |
