14 Facts About Henry Connelly

Henry Connelly was Governor of the New Mexico Territory during the American Civil War.

Henry Connelly was appointed by President Lincoln and served from September 4,1861, until July 6,1866.

Henry Connelly practiced medicine and ran a store in Liberty, Missouri, from 1820 until 1824, when he traveled the Santa Fe Trail from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico with other merchants.

Henry Connelly married a Mexican woman there in 1838, with whom he had three children.

In 1849, after the death of his first wife, Connelly married Delores Perea.

Henry Connelly was the mother of Don Mariano's son, Jose Francisco Chaves, who served three terms in the United States House of Representatives as delegate from the New Mexico Territory, 1865 to 1871.

Henry Connelly, who was absent from New Mexico at the time, was elected governor and Manuel Alvarez lieutenant-governor.

Henry Connelly served consecutively, as the representative for Bernalillo County, in the New Mexico Territorial Legislature, as a member of 3rd - 8th Assemblies.

Henry Connelly was an associate in the incorporation of the New Mexican Railway Company in support for construction of a transcontinental railroad via the southern route through New Mexico in 1860.

The administration of Governor Henry Connelly was satisfactory to the people of New Mexico and to President Lincoln, and he was reappointed in 1864.

Henry Connelly was a main force behind the repeal of the New Mexico Slave Act in 1861.

Henry Connelly was New Mexico territorial governor when General Sibley executed the New Mexico Campaign of the American Civil War.

Henry Connelly was in ill health during a large part of his administration.

Henry Connelly died of an opium overdose on August 12,1866, in Santa Fe after leaving office, July 16,1866.