Martín Carrera
Encyclopedia
Martín Carrera Sabat was a Mexican
general and interim president of the country for about a month in 1855. He was a moderate Liberal.
Carrera entered the military at the age of 9, as a cadet in the Expeditionary Regiment of Ferdinand VII. By 1818 he was an instructor. He joined the insurgent Army of the Three Guarantees
after the Battle of Huerta) (August 30, 1821). He was with the army when it triumphally entered Mexico City
on September 27, 1821.
A lieutenant by the age of 16, he commanded a battery of artillery during the siege of the Spanish in San Juan de Ulúa
in 1822. Later he was director of the arsenal and commander of artillery at San Luis Potosí
. He defended the government of President Guadalupe Victoria
at the time of the "Motín de la Acordada", an insurrection led by General José María Lobato and Lorenzo de Zavala
in favor of Vicente Guerrero
(November 30, 1828). In 1831 he was named commander of La Ciudadela in Mexico City.
Carrera was promoted to brigadier general in 1840, and to general of division in 1853. He was commander of the artillery of the Mexican Army for much of his career. He was a member of the National Legislative Junta charged with writing the Bases Orgánicas (constitution) in 1843 and senator of the Republic from 1844 to 1846.
Carrera was commander of artillery in the Valley of Mexico at the time of the United States invasion. He fought in the battles of Padierna (August 20, 1847), Molino del Rey
(September 11), and Casa Mata (September 11). After the war he was military governor of the Federal District (1853–55).
When Antonio López de Santa Anna
resigned the presidency because of the Plan de Ayutla, a junta of representatives named Carrera interim president to replace him. He served from August 15 to September 12, 1855. On August 20, 1855, in agreement with the Plan de Ayutla, he called elections for a constituent congress. Under pressure from supporters and opponents of the Plan de Ayutla, he resigned in September, turning the office over to Rómulo Díaz de la Vega
. He then retired to private life in Mexico City.
Carrera did not take part in the Reform War
. At the time of the French invasion, he offered his services to President Benito Juárez
, but serve in Juárez's government or military. He wrote Uso y prácticas de maniobra de artillería ligera de montaña (San Luis Potosí, 1831) and Notas de campaña (1843). He died in Mexico City in 1871, at the age of 65.
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 interim president of the country for about a month in 1855. He was a moderate Liberal.
Carrera entered the military at the age of 9, as a cadet in the Expeditionary Regiment of Ferdinand VII. By 1818 he was an instructor. He joined the insurgent Army of the Three Guarantees
Army of the Three Guarantees
At the end of the Mexican War of Independence, the Army of the Three Guarantees was the name given to the army after the unification of the Spanish troops led by Agustín de Iturbide and the Mexican insurgent troops of Vicente Guerrero, consolidating Mexico's independence from Spain...
after the Battle of Huerta) (August 30, 1821). He was with the army when it triumphally entered 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...
on September 27, 1821.
A lieutenant by the age of 16, he commanded a battery of artillery during the siege of the Spanish in San Juan de Ulúa
San Juan de Ulúa
San Juan de Ulúa, also known as Castle of San Juan de Ulúa is a large complex of fortresses, prisons and one former palace on an island overlooking the seaport of Veracruz, Mexico.-History:...
in 1822. Later he was director of the arsenal and commander of artillery at 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....
. He defended the government of 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...
at the time of the "Motín de la Acordada", an insurrection led by General José María Lobato and Lorenzo de Zavala
Lorenzo de Zavala
Manuel Lorenzo Justiniano de Zavala y Saenz was a 19th-century Mexican politician. He served as finance minister under President Vicente Guerrero. A colonizer and statesman, he was also the interim Vice President of the Republic of Texas, serving under interim President David G...
in favor of 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...
(November 30, 1828). In 1831 he was named commander of La Ciudadela in Mexico City.
Carrera was promoted to brigadier general in 1840, and to general of division in 1853. He was commander of the artillery of the Mexican Army for much of his career. He was a member of the National Legislative Junta charged with writing the Bases Orgánicas (constitution) in 1843 and senator of the Republic from 1844 to 1846.
Carrera was commander of artillery in the Valley of Mexico at the time of the United States invasion. He fought in the battles of Padierna (August 20, 1847), Molino del Rey
Battle of Molino del Rey
The Battle of Molino del Rey was one of the bloodiest engagements of the Mexican-American War. It was fought in September 1847 between Mexican forces under General Antonio Léon against an American force under General Winfield Scott at a hill called El Molino del Rey near Mexico City.-Background:On...
(September 11), and Casa Mata (September 11). After the war he was military governor of the Federal District (1853–55).
When 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...
resigned the presidency because of the Plan de Ayutla, a junta of representatives named Carrera interim president to replace him. He served from August 15 to September 12, 1855. On August 20, 1855, in agreement with the Plan de Ayutla, he called elections for a constituent congress. Under pressure from supporters and opponents of the Plan de Ayutla, he resigned in September, turning the office over to Rómulo Díaz de la Vega
Rómulo Díaz de la Vega
Rómulo Díaz de la Vega was interim president of Mexico in 1855. He studied military science and rose to the rank of general.He was captured at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma....
. He then retired to private life in Mexico City.
Carrera did not take part in the Reform War
Reform War
The Reform War in Mexico is one of the episodes of the long struggle between Liberal and Conservative forces that dominated the country’s history in the 19th century. The Liberals wanted a federalist government, limiting traditional Catholic Church and military influence in the country...
. At the time of the French invasion, he offered his services to President 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...
, but serve in Juárez's government or military. He wrote Uso y prácticas de maniobra de artillería ligera de montaña (San Luis Potosí, 1831) and Notas de campaña (1843). He died in Mexico City in 1871, at the age of 65.