Facundo Melgares

Facundo Melgares (1775, Caravaca, Murcia, Spain - after 1823) was a Spanish military officer who served as both the last Spanish Governor of New Mexico and the first Mexican Governor of New Mexico. Melgares was, like most of the officials of the Spanish crown in his time, a member of the Spanish upper class. He is described as a "portly man of military demeanour" and as "a gentleman and gallant soldier".

Early life Melgares was born in 1775 in Caravaca, Murcia, Spain, to an aristocrat family. A member of the family was a judge of the Audiencia of New Spain. Melgares received a good education and military training and reached the position of lieutenant.

Military career

1803–1811 With the assistance of his father-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Alberto Maynez, a future governor of New Mexico and assistant to the commanding general of the Western Provinces, based in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Melgares began his military career. He was stationed near the northern border of the Spanish territory and remained at that post for approximately ten years.

In 1803, Melgares enlisted at the Presidio of San Fernando de Carrizal, south of El Paso del Norte. He took part in battles against the Apaches, who raided the settlements along the Rio Grande. Melgares was tasked with suppressing the Pawnee, who had attacked a Spanish scouting party. Melgares arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with a force of sixty well-equipped soldiers.

Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase had not made a well defined boundary of the Spanish - US border (and the border of Arkansas was not made certain until 1819). On 30 May 1806, Melgares was called to see the governor of New Mexico, Joaquín del Real Alencaster.

He was tasked with detaining Thomas Jefferson's explorers of the region, Lewis and Clark (which Pedro Vial before him had twice failed to do); resisting American settlement at the Red River; exploring New Mexico to the Missouri River; and negotiating a treaty with the Pawnee Indians in which they would prevent the Anglo-American egress.

Melgares led 105 Spanish soldiers, 400 New Mexican militiamen, 100 Amerindians, and more than 2,000 animals (a caballada of horses). He reached Nebraska. and it is Pike's surviving map which details Melgares' expedition.

Destinations of the Melgares expedition

Taos (start) Canadian river headwaters (Rio Rojo) Red River Taovayas village Medicine Lodge River Turkey Creek Kinsley Sun City, Kansas Mouth of Coon Creek on Arkansas river Great Bend, Arkansas River Pawnee village, Webster County, Nebraska.

Melgares remained a staunch monarchist despite the strong likelihood of Mexican independence. Following Agustín de Iturbide's Plan of Iguala, Melgares reluctantly supported the new empire. On 26 December 1821, Melgares received official word that he should swear allegiance to the new Mexican government. In 1821, after independence, Melgares welcomed the first U.S. trade delegation (under William Becknell) to Santa Fe.

On 5 July 1822, Melgares was dismissed from his post. He continued as a soldier under the command of his replacement, Francisco Xavier Chávez. The charges leading to Melgares demotion are not known but may have involved the priest of Abiquiu who tried to appropriate town property for his church. In August 1823, Melgares was cleared of all charges. After that, at age 58, Melgares falls from the pages of history.