Stephen Watts Kearny ( ; surname also appears as
Kearney in some historic sources; August 30, 1794October 31, 1848), was one of the foremost
antebellum frontier officers of the
United States Army. He is remembered for his significant contributions in the
Mexican–American War, especially the conquest of
California. The
Kearny code, which was proclaimed on September 22, 1846 in Santa Fe established the law and government of the newly acquired territory of New Mexico, was named after him.