Representative José Francisco Chaves

José Francisco Chaves (born June 27, 1833) was a Republican politician who represented the Territory of New Mexico in the United States Congress during the mid-nineteenth century. Serving as a territorial delegate rather than a voting member, he held the role of Representative for New Mexico from December 4, 1865, to March 3, 1871. Over the course of his congressional service, he completed three terms, reflecting a sustained level of support from his constituents in the territory.

Chaves’s tenure in Congress coincided with the immediate post–Civil War era, a formative period for both national reconstruction and the governance of western territories. Although he represented New Mexico at-large, as indicated by the district designation “-1,” he served under the Republican Party banner at a time when the party was dominant in federal politics. His congressional career, spanning from 1865 to 1871, established him as a significant historical member of Congress from New Mexico, though specific committee assignments, office details, and later career information are not recorded in the available metadata.