José Francisco Chaves

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José Francisco Chaves
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico Territory's At-large district
In office March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867 February 20, 1869 – March 3, 1871
Preceded by	Francisco Perea Charles P. Clever
Succeeded by	Charles P. Clever José M. Gallegos
Born	June 27, 1833 Padillas (then Mexico; now New Mexico, USA
Died	November 26, 1904 Pinoswells, New Mexico, USA
Political party	Republican
Profession	Politician, Lawyer, Farmer

José Francisco Chaves (June 27, 1833 – November 26, 1904) was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer and farmer from the New Mexico Territory.

Born in Padillas (then in the Mexican province of Santa Fe de Nuevo México; now the U.S. state of New Mexico), Chaves attended schools in St. Louis, Missouri, studied medicine at the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons, engaged in livestock raising in the New Mexico Territory and was president of the New Mexico Territorial Council for eight sessions.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, he entered the Union Army as major of the 1st New Mexico Infantry Regiment. He was later promoted to lieutenant colonel and took part in the Battle of Valverde in 1862.

Chaves was elected a Republican to the United States House of Representatives in 1864, serving from 1865 to 1867. He was elected back to the House of Representatives in 1868 and successfully contested the election of Charles P. Clever in 1869, serving again until 1871, being unsuccessful for reelection in 1870.

Afterwards, Chaves engaged in farming and livestock raising, was district attorney of the second judicial district from 1875 to 1877 and was a member and president of the New Mexico constitutional convention in 1889. He was New Mexico Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1903 to 1904 and was appointed New Mexico State Historian in 1903, but was assassinated in Pinoswells, New Mexico on November 26, 1904 before serving. Chaves was interned in Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

[edit] External links

• José Francisco Chaves at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2008-02-14
• José Francisco Chaves at Find A Grave Retrieved on 2008-02-14

Preceded by Francisco Perea	Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico Territory's At-large congressional district March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867	Succeeded by Charles P. Clever
Preceded by Charles P. Clever	Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico Territory's At-large congressional district February 20, 1869 – March 3, 1871	Succeeded by José M. Gallegos

This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.