22 Facts About Donaciano Vigil

Donaciano Vigil was an American politician who served as the second governor of the New Mexico Territory.

Donaciano Vigil was born in 1802 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and was educated by his father.

Donaciano Vigil enlisted in the Santa Fe militia in 1823 as a private.

Donaciano Vigil was intelligent, educated and fluent in English as well as Spanish.

Donaciano Vigil twice served as a member of the Department Assembly, from 1838 to 1840 and again from 1843 to 1845.

Donaciano Vigil was involved in the Santa Fe trade with the United States, and came to know many Americans.

However, Governor Manuel Armijo ordered the troops to disband rather than fight, and Donaciano Vigil obeyed under protest.

Donaciano Vigil offered Vigil the position of Secretary of the Territorial Civil Government under Governor Charles Bent.

Donaciano Vigil previously held the position of Territorial Secretary under Governor Armijo.

Donaciano Vigil apparently considered the more progressive government of the US to be preferable to the ineffective and corrupt government based in Mexico City, which he criticized in his 1846 book Arms, Indians and Mismanagement of New Mexico.

Donaciano Vigil informed General Sterling Price, of the Second Missouri Mounted Volunteers, who had a number of conspirators arrested.

Donaciano Vigil accepted the position, calling on the people to be calm.

Donaciano Vigil supported the territorial legislature's resolution calling for the creation of a public university.

Donaciano Vigil held that post until March 1851 when the new constitution took effect and the government of New Mexico was reorganized.

Donaciano Vigil was welcomed by Governor Washington and Secretary Vigil who both thought he was unlikely to succeed.

Donaciano Vigil said that Ortiz could not conduct recruitment in person since his presence would disturb the peace.

Donaciano Vigil had been involved in land purchases for some time.

Donaciano Vigil moved to Pecos in 1854, where he became a major landowner, founding East Pecos.

In 1830 the Pueblo Indians of the area had sold part of their lands to Juan Estavan Pino, and Donaciano Vigil obtained the part of Pino's purchase that lay to the east of the Pecos River.

Donaciano Vigil built houses and storage rooms, and an irrigation ditch to power his grain mill.

Donaciano Vigil continued to be active in public affairs, serving in the territorial legislature several times up to the end of the American Civil War.

Donaciano Vigil died in 1877, leaving a will that divided his land among his numerous sons.