José Manuel Gallegos (October 30, 1815 – April 21, 1875) was a delegate to the

US Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washingto ...

from the

Territory of New Mexico The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912. It was created from the U.S. provisional government of New Mexico, as a result of '' Nuevo México'' becoming ...

Biography

Born in Abiquiú, in what is now

Rio Arriba County, New Mexico Rio Arriba County is a county in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 40,246. Its county seat is Tierra Amarilla. Its northern border is the Colorado state line. Rio Arriba County comprises the Española, N ...

, Gallegos attended parochial schools. He studied theology at the Jesuit run College of

Durango Durango (), officially named Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Durango; Tepehuán: ''Korian''; Nahuatl: ''Tepēhuahcān''), is one of the 31 states which make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico, situated in ...

(Colegio de Durango), Republic of Mexico, graduated in 1840, and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest. He served as member of the legislative assembly of what was then the territory of

Santa Fe de Nuevo México Santa Fe de Nuevo México ( en, Holy Faith of New Mexico; shortened as Nuevo México or Nuevo Méjico, and translated as New Mexico in English) was a Kingdom of the Spanish Empire and New Spain, and later a territory of independent Mexico. The ...

, Republic of Mexico, from 1843 to 1846. He served as member of the first territorial council of the Territory of New Mexico in 1851. Gallegos was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to the Thirty-third US Congress (March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855). He was elected to a second term but served only briefly, March 4, 1855, to July 23, 1856, as he was succeeded by

Miguel Antonio Otero (I) Miguel Antonio Otero (June 21, 1829 – May 30, 1882) was a prominent American politician of the New Mexico Territory and instrumental in the economic development of the territory. Early life Miguel Antonio Otero was born in Valencia ...

, who had successfully contested Gallegos's election. He served as member of the territorial house of representatives 1860-1862 and served as speaker. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1862 to the Thirty-eighth US Congress. In 1862, Gallegos was made a prisoner of war by the Texas Confederate troops when they came through Santa Fe. He served as Treasurer of the New Mexico Territory in 1865 and 1866, and as Superintendent of Indian Affairs in New Mexico in 1868. Gallegos was elected as a

to the Forty-second US Congress (March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873). At the time he did not speak English and asked to be permitted a translator on the Floor of the House of Representatives, this request was denied. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1872 to the Forty-third US Congress. He died in Santa Fe, and was interred there in the Catholic Cemetery.

References

External links

"Hispanic Americans in Congress, 1822-1995: José Manuel Gallegos" Library of Congress
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gallegos, Jose Manuel 1815 births 1875 deaths Members of the New Mexico Territorial Legislature Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from New Mexico Territory American people of Galician descent American Civil War prisoners of war Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress Neomexicanos New Mexico Democrats 19th-century American politicians People from Abiquiú, New Mexico Catholics from New Mexico Members of the United States House of Representatives removed by contest 19th-century American Roman Catholic priests

Biography

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References

Further reading

External links