José María Viesca

José María Viesca y Montes (1787 - 1856) was a lawyer and Mexican politician of federalist ideology, who was Governor of Coahuila and Texas (1827 – 30). His brother was the next governor of Coahuila and Texas, Agustín Viesca (in 1835).

Biography

Viesca y Montes was born in Villa de Santa María de las Parras, Coahuila. He had, at least, a brother, Agustín Viesca. He was uncle of former governor of Coahuila Andrés S. Viesca Bagües. He was Regidor of the City of Parras. Like his brother, Agustín, he was joined to Plan of Iguala in July 5, 1821, although his signature was not recorded in the minutes for being absent.^[1]

He was a member of the delegation of the Internal State East during the Constitutional Convention from 1823 to 1824 and member of the legislature of Coahuila and Texas in 1824. Was elected governor of Coahuila and Texas, a post he held between 4 June 1827 to April 4, 1831.^[2] In 1833 he was senator in the same state.

In 1835 he opposed the centralist regime of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and the Texas Independence, so he found no support to fight for the federalism. He was elected deputy for the state of Coahuila for Constituent Congress of 1856, however, because he was sick, was never submitted to the conference sessions. He died that same year.^[3]

Legacy

In his honor, and that of Anastasio Bustamante, the town of Alamo de Parras was named San José de Viesca and Bustamante, now known simply as Viesca.^[4]

References