Miguel Antonio Otero (born 1829)

Miguel Antonio Otero ( born June 21, 1829 in Valencia, Mexico, † May 30, 1882 in Las Vegas, New Mexico ) was an American politician. Between 1856 and 1862 he represented the New Mexico Territory as a delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Early years and political rise

Miguel Otero attended private and public schools of his home and the Saint Louis University in Missouri as well as in connection still the Pingree 's College in Fishkill (New York). After studying law he was admitted to the bar in 1851. Then he started in Albuquerque to work in his new profession. Politically, he joined the Democratic Party and became private secretary to Territorial Governor William Carr Lane. From 1852 to 1854 he was a member of the Territorial House of Representatives from New Mexico. In 1854 he became Attorney General in New Mexico Territory.

Delegate in Congress

In the congressional elections of 1854 he was defeated José Manuel Gallegos. Otero put but against the election results a contradiction. After the protest was upheld, he could take over his delegate seat in the U.S. House of Representatives on 23 July 1856. After two re- elections in 1856 and 1858 Otero remained until March 3, 1861 Congress. There he sat down, inter alia, for the expansion of the railroads. In 1860 he did not run.

Further CV

In 1860, Otero was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Charleston. Between 1861 and 1862 he was managing as Secretary of State in the official New Mexico Territory. Previously, he had an offer from President Abraham Lincoln refused, who wanted to appoint him ambassador in Spain. In the following years until 1877, Otero was a businessman in various cities in the western United States on the go. He continued to be interested in the railway and engaged in banking. In 1880 he ran unsuccessfully for a return to Congress.

Miguel Otero died in May 1882 in Las Vegas ( New Mexico) and was buried in Denver. His son Miguel was 1897-1906 Governor of New Mexico Territory; his nephew Mariano was from 1879 to 1881 also congress delegate of that territory.