Perea, Pedro, 1852-1906

Pedro Perea (April 22, 1852 – January 11, 1906) was a sheep rancher, politician and banker in the Territory of New Mexico. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a delegate to Congress from the Territory of New Mexico from 1899 to 1901.

Born in Bernalillo, New Mexico, he attended St. Michael's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Georgetown College in Washington, D.C. before graduating from St. Louis College. After graduation, Perea returned to New Mexico and he formed a merchandising business with his brother that specialized in farming and ranching. Before formally entering politics, Perea used his status and influence to secure funding to expand the Santa Fe road. His formal political experience began when he was elected to New Mexico’s 27th Legislative Assembly (1886–1888) to represent Bernalillo County as a member of the territorial council. He served four two-year terms, three of them consecutive (1886–1892, 1894–1896), and focused on the territory’s financial and appropriations issues. In 1896 Perea served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in St. Louis.

Elected to the 56th Congress (1899–1901), Perea served on four committees: Post Office and Post Roads, Military Affairs, Private Land Claims, and Territories. Perea took an aggressive stand for New Mexican statehood. On the day he was sworn into the House, Perea submitted H.R. 57, a bill “to enable the people of New Mexico to form a constitution and state government”; the bill ultimately languished and died. Perea did not run for re-election to the 57th Congress (1901–1903).

When Perea returned to New Mexico, Governor Miguel Otero, II appointed him territorial insurance commissioner in early January 1906; Perea died mere days after his appointmnent of acute gastritis in Bernalillo, New Mexico.