Mariano Arista
Encyclopedia
Mariano Arista was a noted veteran of many of Mexico
's nineteenth century wars who served as president of Mexico
from 15 January 1851 to 6 January 1853.
He was born in the state of San Luis Potosí
. Originally an officer in the Spanish Army, Arista later joined the revolutionary army of Agustín de Iturbide
. Later, he served under Antonio López de Santa Anna
, Mexico's on-again off-again dictator during the attempt to put down the 1836 Texas Revolution
.
In 1846, Arista was given command of the Army of the North and sent to expel American troops from Mexican territory in Texas. The resulting engagement ignited the bloody Mexican-American War of 1846–1848. Arista was in command of Mexican forces during the Battle of Palo Alto
and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma
.
While personally quite brave, Arista was a dedicated republican – a member of Mexico's liberal faction, and therefore the natural enemy of his largely conservative general staff. At both the Battles of Palo Alto
and Resaca de la Palma
, Arista was ill served by the political division among his staff.
After Resaca de la Palma, Mexico's government recalled Arista and he was removed from command. Later absolved of guilt for the defeats at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, Arista spent the rest of the war as a functionary, seeing little combat.
In 1851, Arista succeeded José Joaquín de Herrera as president, and sought to bring fiscal stability to the nation. Conservative resistance to Arista's rule, and an eventual revolt by the said conservatives led to his resignation and exile in 1853.
He died on board the English steamer Tagus going from Lisbon, Portugal, to France on 7 August 1855. In 1880 his remains were returned to Mexico, where the Liberal faction named him a national hero.
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...
's nineteenth century wars who served as president of Mexico
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...
from 15 January 1851 to 6 January 1853.
He was born in the state of San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
. Originally an officer in the Spanish Army, Arista later joined the revolutionary army of Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Aramburu , also known as Augustine I of Mexico, was a Mexican army general who built a successful political and military coalition that was able to march into Mexico City on 27 September 1821, decisively ending the Mexican War of Independence...
. Later, he served under Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
, Mexico's on-again off-again dictator during the attempt to put down the 1836 Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
.
In 1846, Arista was given command of the Army of the North and sent to expel American troops from Mexican territory in Texas. The resulting engagement ignited the bloody Mexican-American War of 1846–1848. Arista was in command of Mexican forces during the Battle of Palo Alto
Battle of Palo Alto
The Battle of Palo Alto was the first major battle of the Mexican-American War and was fought on May 8, 1846, on disputed ground five miles from the modern-day city of Brownsville, Texas...
and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma
Battle of Resaca de la Palma
At the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, one of the early engagements of the Mexican-American War,United States General Zachary Taylor engaged the retreating forces of the Mexican Ejército del Norte under General Mariano Arista on May 9, 1846.-Background:During the night of May 8, following...
.
While personally quite brave, Arista was a dedicated republican – a member of Mexico's liberal faction, and therefore the natural enemy of his largely conservative general staff. At both the Battles of Palo Alto
Battle of Palo Alto
The Battle of Palo Alto was the first major battle of the Mexican-American War and was fought on May 8, 1846, on disputed ground five miles from the modern-day city of Brownsville, Texas...
and Resaca de la Palma
Battle of Resaca de la Palma
At the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, one of the early engagements of the Mexican-American War,United States General Zachary Taylor engaged the retreating forces of the Mexican Ejército del Norte under General Mariano Arista on May 9, 1846.-Background:During the night of May 8, following...
, Arista was ill served by the political division among his staff.
After Resaca de la Palma, Mexico's government recalled Arista and he was removed from command. Later absolved of guilt for the defeats at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, Arista spent the rest of the war as a functionary, seeing little combat.
In 1851, Arista succeeded José Joaquín de Herrera as president, and sought to bring fiscal stability to the nation. Conservative resistance to Arista's rule, and an eventual revolt by the said conservatives led to his resignation and exile in 1853.
He died on board the English steamer Tagus going from Lisbon, Portugal, to France on 7 August 1855. In 1880 his remains were returned to Mexico, where the Liberal faction named him a national hero.