John Munroe (c. 1796 – 26 April 1861) was a United States soldier who was military governor of
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...
between 1849 and 1851.
Early career
John Munroe was born in
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
about 1796. He graduated from
West Point
The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...
in 1814, and was assigned to the artillery. He served in the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...
and
Seminole Wars
The Seminole Wars (also known as the Florida Wars) were a series of three military conflicts between the United States and the Seminoles that took place in Florida between about 1816 and 1858. The Seminoles are a Native American nation which co ...
.
Munroe was chief of artillery under General
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was an American military officer and politician who was the 12th president of the United States, serving from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States ...
in the
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...
of 1846–1847. During the occupation of Mexico City he became an original member of the
Aztec Club of 1847
The Aztec Club of 1847 is a military society founded in 1847 by United States Army officers of the Mexican–American War. It is a male-only hereditary organization with membership of those who can trace a direct ancestral connection "based on ma ...
.
By order of 26 May 1849, Brevet Colonel John Munroe was ordered to Santa Fe to relieve Brevet Lieutenant Colonel
John M. Washington
John MacRae Washington (c. 1797 - December 24, 1853) was a United States artillery officer who became military governor of New Mexico shortly after the end of the Mexican–American War of 1846–1848.
Early career
John M. Washington was born in ...
.
Munroe became military governor of New Mexico in October 1849.
Governor of New Mexico
Munroe was out of his depth as governor of New Mexico, and ran into severe administrative problems.
New Mexico had been under military rule since it was occupied by the United States in 1846.
By 1850, although there were strongly opposed political factions in New Mexico, most were united in opposing the continued military government. Munroe convened a constitutional assembly in May, which ratified a constitution by 6,771 votes to 39.
The constitution envisaged New Mexico as being a State. On 18 July 1850 the U.S. Senate received a copy of Munroe's report dated 13 May 1850 telling them that the elections had been held and he was optimistic about the outcome of the convention.
On 7 June 1850
Henry Clay
Henry Clay (April 12, 1777June 29, 1852) was an American lawyer and statesman who represented Kentucky in both the United States Senate, U.S. Senate and United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives. He was the seventh Spea ...
(who had not yet heard of these events) spoke in the Senate on the subject of the Texas territorial claims in New Mexico.
Towards the end of his speech he said of Munroe, "... who now holds in his hands perhaps the destinies of Santa Fe and New Mexico. He looks on wholly indifferent, and is neutral in the struggle about to arise of the people of Santa Fe, composed, I understand, of American citizens, Mexicans and Spaniards, this side of the Rio del Norte, and the authorities of Texas. And this neutrality is to be kept by ... the lieutenant colonel, who has the dealing out of civil commissions, acting ... as if he were the Autocrat of the Russias."
The constitution, modelled on other recently formed states, included a clause that prohibited slavery.
It was adopted on 20 June 1850, and state officers were elected.
Henry Connelly
Henry Connelly (1800–August 12, 1866) was Governor of the New Mexico Territory during the American Civil War. He was appointed by President Lincoln and served from September 4, 1861, until July 6, 1866. During his term, the territory broke int ...
was elected Governor and Manuel Alvarez Lieutenant-governor.
Since Connelley was absent in the States, Alvarez assumed the position of Acting Governor.
However, Colonel Munroe forbade the assumption of civil power by the elected officials.
The result was a deadlock that lasted for several months.
On 9 September 1850 the U.S. Senate passed a compromise bill that included an act to organize a government for New Mexico as a territory, and this overrode the state legislature.
James S. Calhoun was appointed governor with effect as of 3 March 1851, succeeding John Munroe.
Later years
John Munroe continued serving in the Army until his death on 26 April 1861 in