Juan N. Méndez
Encyclopedia
Juan Nepomuceno Méndez was a Mexican
general, a Liberal politician and confidante of Porfirio Díaz
, and interim president of the Republic
for a few months during the Porfiriato. He served from December 6, 1876 until February 17, 1877.
in the Sierra Norte de Puebla
, Méndez worked in commerce and livestock until 1847. In that year he enlisted in the army
to fight the United States in the Mexican–American War
. He continued in the army after the war, and on December 15, 1854 he was named commander of a battalion in the Puebla National Guard. His unit adhered to the Plan de Ayutla in 1854, and took an active part in the War of the Reform, the War of the French Intervention
and the war opposing Emperor Maximilian
.
He defended Puebla against the rebels of Zacapoaxtla
in January 1856 and fought the Conservatives in the mountains of Puebla and Tlaxcala
in 1857. The same year he was promoted to colonel of infantry
. In 1858 he was made treasurer of the State of Puebla and prefect of the Department of Zacatlán
.
He fought in the Battle of Puebla
against the French on May 5, 1862, and took part in the defense of the city during the subsequent siege. On July 27, 1863 he was promoted to brigadier general
. That year he was also named governor and military commander of Puebla
.
He was later taken prisoner by the French, who sent him into exile on January 17, 1866. He managed to return to the country on July 31, 1866. On August 26, 1866 he became political chief of the Sierra Norte
, and afterwards commander in chief of the forces of the State of Puebla.
Together with General Sóstenes Rocha, he took part in the siege of Querétaro
in 1867. He was again named governor and military commander of Puebla on April 16, 1867, positions he held until January 15 of the following year.
He took part in the revolutions of La Noria
(Díaz's unsuccessful 1871 revolt against Benito Juárez
) and Tuxtepec (Díaz's successful 1876 revolt against Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada
).
. Iglesias claimed to be the legal president of Mexico. As interim president, Méndez called elections, which Díaz won. Méndez's term ended on February 17, 1877, with the return of Díaz to the presidency.
in 1877, where he worked to end the military draft. He was a senator until 1880. He was governor of Puebla for a third time, from October 1, 1880 to January 31, 1885. On February 3, 1885 he became president of the Supreme Military Court, where he served until his death in Mexico City
in 1894. He left no property or money.
His wife was Trinidad González y Castruera.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
general, a Liberal politician and confidante of Porfirio Díaz
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
, and interim president of the Republic
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
for a few months during the Porfiriato. He served from December 6, 1876 until February 17, 1877.
Before the presidency
Born in Tetela de OcampoTetela de Ocampo
Tetela de Ocampo is a town and municipality in the Sierra Norte region of the Mexican state of Puebla."Tetela" is a name of Nahuatl origin, containing the elements tetl and tla : it thus means "place of many hills"...
in the Sierra Norte de Puebla
Sierra Norte de Puebla
The Sierra Norte de Puebla – known simply as the Sierra Norte by locals – is a mountain range that makes up the southern end of the Sierra Madre Oriental in central Mexico.-Mountain range:...
, Méndez worked in commerce and livestock until 1847. In that year he enlisted in the army
Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
to fight the United States in the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
. He continued in the army after the war, and on December 15, 1854 he was named commander of a battalion in the Puebla National Guard. His unit adhered to the Plan de Ayutla in 1854, and took an active part in the War of the Reform, the War of the French Intervention
French intervention in Mexico
The French intervention in Mexico , also known as The Maximilian Affair, War of the French Intervention, and The Franco-Mexican War, was an invasion of Mexico by an expeditionary force sent by the Second French Empire, supported in the beginning by the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Spain...
and the war opposing Emperor Maximilian
Maximilian I of Mexico
Maximilian I was the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire.After a distinguished career in the Austrian Navy, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on April 10, 1864, with the backing of Napoleon III of France and a group of Mexican monarchists who sought to revive the Mexican monarchy...
.
He defended Puebla against the rebels of Zacapoaxtla
Zacapoaxtla
Zacapoaxtla is a city and seat of the municipality of Zacapoaxtla, in the Mexican state of Puebla. The city has a population of 8,062 inhabitants, while the municipality has 49,242 inhabitants at the 2000 census. The name means place where straw is counted, and it originates from Nahuatl roots:...
in January 1856 and fought the Conservatives in the mountains of Puebla and Tlaxcala
Tlaxcala
Tlaxcala officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tlaxcala is one of the 31 states which along with the Federal District comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 60 municipalities and its capital city is Tlaxcala....
in 1857. The same year he was promoted to colonel of infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
. In 1858 he was made treasurer of the State of Puebla and prefect of the Department of Zacatlán
Zacatlán
Zacatlán is a city, and the surrounding municipality of the same name, in the northern region of the Mexican state of Puebla. It is renowned as one of the country's foremost apple-growing regions, and is so sometimes called "Zacatlán de las Manzanas"...
.
He fought in the Battle of Puebla
Battle of Puebla
The Battle of Puebla took place on 5 May 1862 near the city of Puebla during the French intervention in Mexico. The battle ended in a victory for the Mexican Army over the occupying French forces...
against the French on May 5, 1862, and took part in the defense of the city during the subsequent siege. On July 27, 1863 he was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
. That year he was also named governor and military commander of Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
.
He was later taken prisoner by the French, who sent him into exile on January 17, 1866. He managed to return to the country on July 31, 1866. On August 26, 1866 he became political chief of the Sierra Norte
Sierra Norte de Puebla
The Sierra Norte de Puebla – known simply as the Sierra Norte by locals – is a mountain range that makes up the southern end of the Sierra Madre Oriental in central Mexico.-Mountain range:...
, and afterwards commander in chief of the forces of the State of Puebla.
Together with General Sóstenes Rocha, he took part in the siege of Querétaro
Querétaro
Querétaro officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro de Arteaga is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities and its capital city is Santiago de Querétaro....
in 1867. He was again named governor and military commander of Puebla on April 16, 1867, positions he held until January 15 of the following year.
He took part in the revolutions of La Noria
Plan de la Noria
The Plan de la Noria was a revolutionary call to arms with the intent of ousting Mexican President Benito Juárez. The plan was drafted by Porfirio Díaz immediately following his defeat by Juárez in the presidential election of 1871. Neither Juárez, Díaz, nor the third candidate Sebastián Lerdo de...
(Díaz's unsuccessful 1871 revolt against Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez born Benito Pablo Juárez García, was a Mexican lawyer and politician of Zapotec origin from Oaxaca who served five terms as president of Mexico: 1858–1861 as interim, 1861–1865, 1865–1867, 1867–1871 and 1871–1872...
) and Tuxtepec (Díaz's successful 1876 revolt against Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada
Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada
Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada y Corral was a jurist and Liberal president of Mexico.-Background:...
).
As interim president
With the success of the Plan de Tuxtepec, Díaz temporarily turned over the government to Méndez on December 6, 1876, in order to take the field to fight the partisans of José María IglesiasJosé María Iglesias
José María Iglesias Inzaurraga was a Mexican lawyer, professor, journalist and politician. From October 31, 1876 to January 23, 1877 he claimed the interim presidency of Mexico...
. Iglesias claimed to be the legal president of Mexico. As interim president, Méndez called elections, which Díaz won. Méndez's term ended on February 17, 1877, with the return of Díaz to the presidency.
After the presidency
Méndez entered the SenateSenate of Mexico
The Senate of the Republic, constitutionally Chamber of Senators of the Honorable Congress of the Union After a series of reforms during the 1990s, it is now made up of 128 senators:...
in 1877, where he worked to end the military draft. He was a senator until 1880. He was governor of Puebla for a third time, from October 1, 1880 to January 31, 1885. On February 3, 1885 he became president of the Supreme Military Court, where he served until his death in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in 1894. He left no property or money.
His wife was Trinidad González y Castruera.
Further reading
- García Puron, Manuel, México y sus gobernantes, v. 2. Mexico City: Joaquín Porrúa, 1984.
- Orozco Linares, Fernando, Gobernantes de México. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1985, ISBN 968-38-0260-5.