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 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 and géfe militar. 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 transferred from New Mexico to the State of Chihuahua.

Political chiefs and governors

The political chiefs or governors were:
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
18371844Manuel ArmijoSecond term
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