In 1815, at just 24 years old, Godoy Cruz was elected by Mendoza to the Tucumán Congress and served in 1816 for the declaration. He was president on two occasions and vice-president on one.
He subsequently served as governor of Mendoza Province 1820–22. In 1831 he was exiled to Chile where he was a teacher and pioneered silkworm cultivation. He was also a successful merchant of woven goods.
The city of Godoy Cruz and its surrounding department in Mendoza, and streets across the country were named in his honour.
References
(in Spanish)Profile by the Mendoza Province education portal