Santiago Abreú

Who is Santiago Abreú?

Santiago Abreú was governor of Santa Fe de Nuevo México from 1832 to 1833. He was a victim of the Chimayó Rebellion of 1837. He was dismembered before being allowed to die.

Santiago Abreú was deputy to the Congress in Mexico City from 1825–26, and was appointed governor in 1832-33.

Abreú was a supporter of Governor Albino Pérez, who had become extremely unpopular for enforcing the decisions of the centrist government of President Antonio López de Santa Anna, which included reduction of local political control and imposition of new taxes. During the rebellion against Pérez which broke out on 7 August 1837, Abreú was captured near the rancho of Cerrillos and imprisoned in Santo Domingo. The next day he was taken from jail by a mob that tore off his penis and decapitated him. His brother Ramón Abreu, publisher of the newspaper El Crepúsculo de la Libertad, was also assassinated in this rebellion. The assassins were Pueblo warriors from Santo Domingo, who were also responsible for the death of governor Perez. However, in the aftermath of the rebellion they were treated carefully to avoid further trouble.