Edelmiro Mayer

Germán Edelmiro Mayer (28 May 1834 – 4 January 1897) was an Argentine soldier, writer and statesman who fought in the Argentine Civil Wars, the American Civil War and against the French intervention in Mexico. Mayer was the third governor of the national territory of Santa Cruz, being in office from 1893 until his death in 1897.

Early life Mayer was born in Buenos Aires in 1834, the son of a Hungarian typographer and a Spanish mother. At the age of 18, he settled along with his family in New York City, where he lived until 1858. Back to Argentina, he joined the State of Buenos Aires army and took part in the battles of Cepeda and Pavon against the Argentine Confederation, where he reached the rank of captain and later of mayor. After a dispute between his superiors, General Wenceslao Paunero and Bartolome Mitre, regarding promotions, Mayer resigned to the army and in late 1861 he returned to the United States, where his uncle owned a store.

American Civil War Hired by his uncle, he soon left business life for West Point, where he was appointed a military instructor. There, he became a friend of Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln. Mayer left the military academy to work in Lincoln Sr's law office. Mayer took sides with abolitionism, and wrote several articles in Harper's Magazine, stressing the role of African slaves' descendants in the South American Independence wars. He helped to establish a number of colored regiments. Promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, he fought with distinction in Chattanooga, Olustee and the Siege of Petersburg, commanding the 45th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment. At the time of Lincoln's assassination, Mayer and his men were at a party along with his friend Robert Lincoln. Mayer attended Abraham Lincoln's funeral, comforting his friend and family.

French intervention in Mexico From the United States, Mayer moved to Mexico, where he became a general in Benito Juarez's army. Regarded as a "gringo" by some of his subordinates, he killed his second in command in the course of a pistol duel. After he saved the life of French-appointed General Leonardo Márquez in the aftermath of the siege of Querétaro, in 1867, Mayer was set for execution by firing squad for treason. His own life was spared by the intervention of former President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, then Argentina's ambassador to the United States.

Governor of Santa Cruz Undeterred by a number of ill-fated investments in shore facilities and railways, Mayer eventually purchased a ranch in Santa Cruz, then a federal territory in Patagonia region. His influence and experience led President Carlos Pellegrini to appoint him as governor in 1893, after the resignation of Ramon Lista.

Mayer died suddenly while working at his office in Rio Gallegos on 4 January 1897.