Pablo Montoya (also known as Jose Pablo Montoya) (July 1, 1792– February 7, 1847) was a New Mexican politician who was active both in the 1837 revolt against the Mexican government, and in the

Taos Revolt The Taos Revolt was a populist insurrection in January 1847 by Hispano and Pueblo allies against the United States' occupation of present-day northern New Mexico during the Mexican–American War. Provisional governor Charles Bent and severa ...

of 1847 against the United States, during the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...

Early life and education

Jose Pablo Montoya was born July 1, 1792, the son of Andres Montoya and Victoria Velarde.

Career

At some point Montoya was the mayor of

Taos Taos or TAOS may refer to: Places * Taos, Missouri, a city in Cole County, Missouri, United States * Taos County, New Mexico, United States ** Taos, New Mexico, a city, the county seat of Taos County, New Mexico *** Taos art colony, an art colo ...

. In 1837 he was part of the New Mexican Río Arriba Rebellion which briedly put José María González and Montoya as governor of New Mexico. Both González and Montoya were both

Taos Pueblo Taos Pueblo (or Pueblo de Taos) is an ancient pueblo belonging to a Taos-speaking (Tiwa) Native American tribe of Puebloan people. It lies about north of the modern city of Taos, New Mexico. The pueblos are considered to be one of the oldest ...

Indians and led the Junta Popular, the most ethnically inclusive government in the history of New Mexico. Montoya replaced González as Governor. In September of that year he led an army of 3000 rebels to within a league and a half of Santa Fe, where he arranged a truce with Gen. Manuel Armijo. He secured his personal immunity by turning over the planners of the rebellion, who were jailed in Santa Fe and later executed by Armijo's forces. Montoya was allowed to return to his home. In January 1847 Montoya participated in the insurrection against United States rule in New Mexico, begun by those who did not accept the Mexican governor's surrender. Historian David Lavender said that Montoya "style himself as the

Santa Anna Santa Anna may refer to: * Santa Anna, Texas, a town in Coleman County in Central Texas, United States * Santa Anna, Starr County, Texas * Santa Anna Township, DeWitt County, Illinois, one of townships in DeWitt County, Illinois, United States. ...

of the North." Montoya was captured during the 1847 revolt. After the U.S. had re-established control, a U.S. military court charged him with and convicted him of treason. The judges sentenced him and 14 other men to death for their roles in the revolt. Montoya and the others were

hanged Hanging is the suspension of a person by a noose or ligature around the neck.Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. Hanging as method of execution is unknown, as method of suicide from 1325. The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' states that hanging i ...

in the

Taos Plaza Taos Plaza is a center of shops and monuments within the Taos Downtown Historic District in Taos, New Mexico. Overview The Taos Plaza is the historic center of the town of Taos. Once a Spanish fortified walled plaza with houses and businesses, it ...

on February 7, 1847.

Personal life

He married Maria Teresa Esquivel and they had established a family in present-day

Taos, New Mexico Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Initially founded in 1615, it was intermittently occupied until its formal establishment in 1795 by Nuevo México Governor Fernando Ch ...

.Karen Mitchell, "Taos Revolt"
Taos County, New Mexico, New Mexico GenWeb Project He was likely a landowner and rancher.

Cultural references

* Pablo Montoya is featured as one of the

protagonists A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a st ...

Maxwell Anderson James Maxwell Anderson (December 15, 1888 – February 28, 1959) was an American playwright, author, poet, journalist, and lyricist. Background Anderson was born on December 15, 1888, in Atlantic, Pennsylvania, the second of eight children to ...

's 1932 play '' Night Over Taos''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Montoya, Pablo 1816 births 1847 deaths 19th-century executions of American people People executed by the United States military by hanging People of the Taos Revolt Mexican people of the Mexican–American War