Melchor Múzquiz
Encyclopedia
Melchor de Eca y Múzquiz (Santa Rosa, nowadays Ciudad Melchor Múzquiz, Coahuila
, January 5, 1790 – December 14, 1844 in Mexico City
) was a Mexican soldier and politician. From August to December 1832 he was president of Mexico.
in 1810 in Coahuila to fight for Mexican independence. He took part in many engagements. In 1812 he was a lieutenant. In 1813 he led the infantry in the defense of Zacapu
. In November 1816, now a colonel, he was taken prisoner at Fort Monteblanco, near Córdova
, Veracruz
. He was freed under a general amnesty, even though he refused to give his word that he would not fight again against the viceregal government.
In 1821 he supported the Plan de Iguala, which resulted in Agustín de Iturbide
ascending the throne as Mexico's first emperor. However, as a congressional deputy he did not support this result, as he was a republican. He and other deputies proposed that Iturbide be declared a traitor. During the rebellion against the emperor, he joined the Plan de Casa Mata, but he did not have the confidence of the leaders, who considered him a radical.
He was also general of a division under President Guadalupe Victoria
and military commandant of Puebla
. In Puebla, together with General Filisola, he rose against President Vicente Guerrero
on December 10, 1828 (Plan de Jalapa). Múzquiz was initially defeated by José Joaquín de Herrera, but the rebellion was successful. He was one of the individuals who offered the presidency to Anastasio Bustamante
.
revolted, President Bustamante left the capital to fight the rebels, leaving Múzquiz as acting president (August 14, 1832 to December 26, 1832). Neither Bustamante nor Santa Anna could prevail. Manuel Gómez Pedraza
assumed the presidency on December 24 as the result of an agreement between the warring factions (Convenios de Zavaleta) and a congressional resolution, after 11 months of fighting. Múzquiz was the first president to collect taxes on doors and windows.
with the power to dissolve Congress or the Supreme Court.
He was a candidate for president in 1843, but Santa Anna won the office. He died in December 1844, in poverty, remembered for his scrupulous honesty in the management of public funds. He was buried with full honors in the Cemetery of Santa Paula. Múzquiz was officially benemérito de la patria en grado heroico, an honor bestowed by Congress.
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
, January 5, 1790 – December 14, 1844 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...
) was a Mexican soldier and politician. From August to December 1832 he was president of Mexico.
War of Independence and First Empire
Múzquiz was born on January 5, 1790 or sometime in March, depending on the source. He studied at the Colegio de San Ildefonso in Mexico City. While still a student, he enlisted in the forces of General Ignacio López RayónIgnacio López Rayón
Ignacio López Rayón led the revolutionary government of his country after Miguel Hidalgo's death, during the first years of the Mexican War of Independence....
in 1810 in Coahuila to fight for Mexican independence. He took part in many engagements. In 1812 he was a lieutenant. In 1813 he led the infantry in the defense of Zacapu
Zacapú
Zacapu is a city and its surrounding municipality in the Nahuatzen mountains of Michoacán, Mexico. the city had a population of 51,386 in the 2005 census and the municipality 70,636. The municipality has an area of 455.96 km² .- Georaphy :The municipality has an area of 455.96 km. It is...
. In November 1816, now a colonel, he was taken prisoner at Fort Monteblanco, near Córdova
Cordova
-Places:*Cordova, Alabama, USA*Cordova, Alaska, USA*Cordova, Cebu, Philippines*Cordova, Illinois, USA*Cordova, Maryland, USA*Cordova, Nebraska, USA*Cordova, New Mexico, USA*Cordova, South Carolina, USA*Cordova, Tennessee, USA*Córdoba, Argentina...
, Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
. He was freed under a general amnesty, even though he refused to give his word that he would not fight again against the viceregal government.
In 1821 he supported the Plan de Iguala, which resulted in 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...
ascending the throne as Mexico's first emperor. However, as a congressional deputy he did not support this result, as he was a republican. He and other deputies proposed that Iturbide be declared a traitor. During the rebellion against the emperor, he joined the Plan de Casa Mata, but he did not have the confidence of the leaders, who considered him a radical.
Republic of Mexico
In 1823 to 1824 he was supreme political chief of the Province of Mexico. On March 2, 1824 the new Mexican Congress changed his title to governor of the State of Mexico. He returned for a second period as governor of the state from April 26, 1830 to October 1, 1830.He was also general of a division under President Guadalupe Victoria
Guadalupe Victoria
Guadalupe Victoria born José Miguel Ramón Adaucto Fernández y Félix, was a Mexican politician and military man who fought for independence against the Spanish Empire in the Mexican War of Independence. He was a deputy for Durango and a member of the Supreme Executive Power...
and military commandant 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....
. In Puebla, together with General Filisola, he rose against President Vicente Guerrero
Vicente Guerrero
Vicente Ramón Guerrero Saldaña was one of the leading revolutionary generals of the Mexican War of Independence, who fought against Spain for independence in the early 19th century, and served briefly as President of Mexico...
on December 10, 1828 (Plan de Jalapa). Múzquiz was initially defeated by José Joaquín de Herrera, but the rebellion was successful. He was one of the individuals who offered the presidency to Anastasio Bustamante
Anastasio Bustamante
Anastasio Bustamante y Oseguera was president of Mexico three times, from 1830 to 1832, from 1837 to 1839 and from 1839 to 1841. He was a Conservative. He first came to power by leading a coup against president Vicente Guerrero...
.
Acting president
In 1832 when Antonio López de Santa AnnaAntonio 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...
revolted, President Bustamante left the capital to fight the rebels, leaving Múzquiz as acting president (August 14, 1832 to December 26, 1832). Neither Bustamante nor Santa Anna could prevail. Manuel Gómez Pedraza
Manuel Gómez Pedraza
Manuel Gómez Pedraza was a Mexican general and president of the country from 1832 to 1833....
assumed the presidency on December 24 as the result of an agreement between the warring factions (Convenios de Zavaleta) and a congressional resolution, after 11 months of fighting. Múzquiz was the first president to collect taxes on doors and windows.
Later career and death
In 1836 he was president of the Supremo Poder Conservador, an institution of five members established under the Seven LawsSiete Leyes
The Siete Leyes were a series of constitutional instruments that fundamentally altered the organizational structure of the young first Mexican republic...
with the power to dissolve Congress or the Supreme Court.
He was a candidate for president in 1843, but Santa Anna won the office. He died in December 1844, in poverty, remembered for his scrupulous honesty in the management of public funds. He was buried with full honors in the Cemetery of Santa Paula. Múzquiz was officially benemérito de la patria en grado heroico, an honor bestowed by Congress.