José María Viesca

José María Viesca y Montes (1787–1856) was a lawyer and Mexican politician aligned with federalist ideology, who served as Governor of Coahuila and Texas (1827–1830). His brother, Agustín Viesca, took over the role of governor in 1835.

Early life Viesca y Montes was born in Villa de Santa María de las Parras, Coahuila. He had at least one brother, Agustín Viesca. He was the uncle of former governor of Coahuila Andrés S. Viesca Bagües and was Regidor of the City of Parras.

Career Like his brother, Agustín, he joined Plan of Iguala on 5 July 1821, but his signature was not recorded in the minutes because of his absence.

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

In 1835, he opposed the centralist regime of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and Texas Independence, but he found little support for his federalist ideology. He was elected deputy for the state of Coahuila until the Constituent Congress of 1856. However, sickness prevented him from attending the conference, and he died the same year.

Legacy To commemorate both Viesca and Mexican President Anastasio Bustamante, the town of Alamo de Parras, in Coahuila, was named San José de Viesca and Bustamante. The town is now known as Viesca.