John Henry K. Burgwin, American soldier, was a Second Lieutenant in 1833 when the US 1st Dragoons (later changed to 1st Cavalry) were established. He then served at Fort Gibson, in what is now Oklahoma. In 1847 he was a Captain in the 1st Dragoons, serving under Colonel Sterling Price. Responding to the Taos Revolt Burgwin moved towards Taos and led a contingent of the US troops at the Battle of Embudo Pass on January 29, 1847. [1]
The following day Burgwin joined Col. Price and the combined force marched to Taos where the Mexicans and Natives they were pursuing had retired.
He was severely wounded on February 3 during the Siege of Pueblo de Taos and died February 7, 1847.
In 1852 Cantonment Burgwin (often referred to as "Fort Burgwin"), named after Captain Burgwin, was set up 10 miles outside of Taos, and was to remain a US Army outpost until 1860.