Manuel Gómez Pedraza
Encyclopedia
Manuel Gómez Pedraza was a Mexican
general and president of the country from 1832 to 1833.
Born into the upper middle class, Gómez Pedraza was a student at the time of the Grito de Dolores
(Cry of Independence) by Miguel Hidalgo
in 1810. He enlisted in the royalist army under General Félix María Calleja del Rey
, becoming a lieutenant. He fought the Mexican insurgents during the War of Independence, and contributed to the capture of José María Morelos
. He was a New Spain deputy to the Spanish Parliament in 1820. In 1821, after the fall of the viceregal government, he joined with Agustín de Iturbide
, who became a personal friend. Iturbide made him commander of the Mexico City garrison. Under the empire, Gómez was an antifederalist, but after the fall of Iturbide he converted to federalism.
In 1824 he was governor and military commander of Puebla
. In 1825 President Guadalupe Victoria
made him minister of war and the navy. He was later minister of internal and external affairs in Victoria's cabinet. He formed a political party with a diverse membership. This became the Partido Moderador (Moderate Party).
He was a candidate for president of the Republic in 1828 in opposition to Vicente Guerrero
, and actually won the elections. However, on December 3, 1828 under military threat (the National Palace had been bombarded) by his adversaries, including Antonio López de Santa Anna
, he renounced his victory and left the country. The election was annulled, and under the Plan de Perote, Vicente Guerrero
assumed the presidency.
He returned to Veracruz
in October 1830 from Bordeaux
, but was immediately sent back into exile by his enemies. He then went to New Orleans, where he published a manifesto against the government of Anastasio Bustamante
.
Gómez Pedraza returned to Mexico on November 5, 1832. The Plan de Zavaleta recognized him as president, and he took office on December 24, 1832 in Puebla. He entered Mexico City the following January 3, accompanied by Santa Anna. One of his first official acts was to enforce the decree of February 22, 1832 expelling the remaining Spanish citizens from the country.
Soon after being named president, he convoked the Congress, which, however, elected Santa Anna president and Valentín Gómez Farías
vice-president. Because of the former's illness, Gómez Farías took office as president, on April 1, 1833, replacing Gómez Pedraza.
In 1841 Gómez Pedraza was named to Santa Anna's cabinet as minister of internal and external affairs. Also in 1841 he was a deputy to the constituent congress, and was detained when that congress was dissolved. As a federal deputy beginning in 1844 he was known for his eloquent orations. That year he spoke in the Senate against the personal dictatorship of Santa Anna.
In 1846 he became a member of the Council of Government, and the following year he returned as minister of relations, when the government was transferred to Querétaro because of the U.S. occupation of Mexico City. He was president of the Mexican Senate during the debate and approval of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo that ended the war (February 1848). He speech to the Senate on May 24, 1848 about the war with the United States has been described as "one of the most brilliant pieces of oratory in the history of the Mexican Parliament."
In 1850 he ran again for president, but was defeated by General Mariano Arista
. He was director of the national Monte de Piedad (pawn shop) when he died in Mexico City in 1851, refusing the last rites. The clergy did not allow his burial in sacred ground.
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 and president of the country from 1832 to 1833.
Born into the upper middle class, Gómez Pedraza was a student at the time of the Grito de Dolores
Grito de Dolores
The Grito de Dolores also known as El Grito de la Independencia , uttered from the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato on April 19, 1810 is the event that marks the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence and is the most important national holiday observed in Mexico...
(Cry of Independence) by Miguel Hidalgo
Miguel Hidalgo
Miguel Gregorio Antonio Ignacio Hidalgo y Costilla y Gallaga Mandarte Villaseñor , more commonly known as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla or simply Miguel Hidalgo, was a Mexican priest and a leader of the Mexican War of Independence.In 1810 Hidalgo led a group of peasants in a revolt against the dominant...
in 1810. He enlisted in the royalist army under General Félix María Calleja del Rey
Félix María Calleja del Rey, 1st Count of Calderón
Félix María Calleja del Rey, 1st Count of Calderón was a Spanish military officer and viceroy of New Spain from March 4, 1813, to September 20, 1816, during Mexico's War of Independence.-Before the insurrection of 1810:Captain Calleja del Rey accompanied the Count of Revillagigedo to New Spain in...
, becoming a lieutenant. He fought the Mexican insurgents during the War of Independence, and contributed to the capture of José María Morelos
José María Morelos
José María Teclo Morelos y Pavón was a Mexican Roman Catholic priest and revolutionary rebel leader who led the Mexican War of Independence movement, assuming its leadership after the execution of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1811...
. He was a New Spain deputy to the Spanish Parliament in 1820. In 1821, after the fall of the viceregal government, he joined with 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...
, who became a personal friend. Iturbide made him commander of the Mexico City garrison. Under the empire, Gómez was an antifederalist, but after the fall of Iturbide he converted to federalism.
In 1824 he was 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....
. In 1825 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...
made him minister of war and the navy. He was later minister of internal and external affairs in Victoria's cabinet. He formed a political party with a diverse membership. This became the Partido Moderador (Moderate Party).
He was a candidate for president of the Republic in 1828 in opposition to 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...
, and actually won the elections. However, on December 3, 1828 under military threat (the National Palace had been bombarded) by his adversaries, including 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...
, he renounced his victory and left the country. The election was annulled, and under the Plan de Perote, 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...
assumed the presidency.
He returned to 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...
in October 1830 from Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, but was immediately sent back into exile by his enemies. He then went to New Orleans, where he published a manifesto against the government of 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...
.
Gómez Pedraza returned to Mexico on November 5, 1832. The Plan de Zavaleta recognized him as president, and he took office on December 24, 1832 in Puebla. He entered Mexico City the following January 3, accompanied by Santa Anna. One of his first official acts was to enforce the decree of February 22, 1832 expelling the remaining Spanish citizens from the country.
Soon after being named president, he convoked the Congress, which, however, elected Santa Anna president and Valentín Gómez Farías
Valentín Gómez Farías
Valentín Gómez Farías was several times acting President of Mexico in the 1830s and 1840s.Gomez Farias was one of the more important political figures in early Mexico. The first presidency of Santa Anna from 1833 to 1836 was a temporary victory for the Mexican Liberals...
vice-president. Because of the former's illness, Gómez Farías took office as president, on April 1, 1833, replacing Gómez Pedraza.
In 1841 Gómez Pedraza was named to Santa Anna's cabinet as minister of internal and external affairs. Also in 1841 he was a deputy to the constituent congress, and was detained when that congress was dissolved. As a federal deputy beginning in 1844 he was known for his eloquent orations. That year he spoke in the Senate against the personal dictatorship of Santa Anna.
In 1846 he became a member of the Council of Government, and the following year he returned as minister of relations, when the government was transferred to Querétaro because of the U.S. occupation of Mexico City. He was president of the Mexican Senate during the debate and approval of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo that ended the war (February 1848). He speech to the Senate on May 24, 1848 about the war with the United States has been described as "one of the most brilliant pieces of oratory in the history of the Mexican Parliament."
In 1850 he ran again for president, but was defeated by General Mariano Arista
Mariano Arista
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 director of the national Monte de Piedad (pawn shop) when he died in Mexico City in 1851, refusing the last rites. The clergy did not allow his burial in sacred ground.