Miguel Barragán
Encyclopedia
Miguel Francisco Barragán Andrade (March 8, 1789 – March 1, 1836) was a Mexican general and a centralist politician. He served as Minister of War in the government of Antonio López de Santa Anna
in 1833 and 1834, then as president of Mexico
from January 28, 1835 to February 27, 1836.
in the war for Mexican independence, rising to the rank of brigadier general. After independence, he joined a conspiracy against Emperor Agustín de Iturbide
with other ex-insurgents. They met in the house of Miguel Domínguez
, ex-corregidor of Querétaro. The conspirators wrote to Pedro Celestino Negrete
in Guadalajara
, expecting support. Instead, he denounced the conspiracy to Iturbide. Seventeen people were arrested, including Guadalupe Victoria
, Brigadier Nicolás Bravo
and Barragán. Barragán was not freed until after the fall of the empire.
On June 20, 1824, he was named commanding general of Veracruz
, which was under bombardment from the Spanish in the fort of San Juan de Ulúa
, the only position the Spanish still held in Mexico. Barragán blockaded the fort with two small ships. The Spanish garrison was suffering from hunger and illness. The commander, Coppinger, surrendered on November 6, 1825, under a pact of 14 articles. The pact was ratified on November 18, and Barragán occupied Ulúa on that day. All of Mexico was now free of Spanish control. In recognition of the results, in 1828 Congress named Barragán political chief of the state of Veracruz.
and force the expulsion of Joel Roberts Poinsett
, the diplomatic representative of the United States
. Colonel José Rincón, under Barragán's command in Veracruz, denounced the conspirators. Barragán was arrested at the hacienda of Santa Anna and confined in the dungeons formerly used by the Inquisition
. Generals Guadalupe Victoria and Vicente Guerrero
intervened in his behalf, and he was sentenced only to temporary exile. He lived in Ecuador
, Guatemala
and the United States.
Called back to Mexico by Santa Anna, he was Minister of War from November 20, 1833 to February 13, 1834 in the governments of Santa Anna and Valentín Gómez Farías
. (He was a political supporter of Santa Anna.) During this period Barragán and Quintanar were sent to suppress rebels in the state of Jalisco
.
. He served until February 27, 1836, when he resigned because of a grave illness. He died in the National Palace on March 1, 1836, a victim of a "putrid fever" (probably typhus
). He was interred in the Cathedral of Mexico City and his name was inscribed in letters of gold in the chamber where Congress met. José Justo Corro
succeeded him in office.
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...
in 1833 and 1834, then 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 January 28, 1835 to February 27, 1836.
The War of Independence and the First Empire
Barragán fought with the Ejército TrigaranteArmy 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...
in the war for Mexican independence, rising to the rank of brigadier general. After independence, he joined a conspiracy against Emperor 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...
with other ex-insurgents. They met in the house of Miguel Domínguez
Miguel Domínguez
José Miguel Domínguez Alemán was a Spanish colonial official in New Spain who played a part in the Mexican independence movement...
, ex-corregidor of Querétaro. The conspirators wrote to Pedro Celestino Negrete
Pedro Celestino Negrete
Pedro Celestino Negrete was a Spanish politician and military man who served as a member of the interim government of México after the abolition of the First Mexican Empire. He fought alongside of Agustín de Iturbide in the royalist army during the Mexican War of Independence...
in Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
, expecting support. Instead, he denounced the conspiracy to Iturbide. Seventeen people were arrested, including 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...
, Brigadier Nicolás Bravo
Nicolás Bravo
Nicolás Bravo was a Mexican politician and soldier. He distinguished himself in both offices during the 1846–1848 U.S. invasion of Mexico....
and Barragán. Barragán was not freed until after the fall of the empire.
On June 20, 1824, he was named commanding general of Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
, which was under bombardment from the Spanish in the fort of 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:...
, the only position the Spanish still held in Mexico. Barragán blockaded the fort with two small ships. The Spanish garrison was suffering from hunger and illness. The commander, Coppinger, surrendered on November 6, 1825, under a pact of 14 articles. The pact was ratified on November 18, and Barragán occupied Ulúa on that day. All of Mexico was now free of Spanish control. In recognition of the results, in 1828 Congress named Barragán political chief of the state of Veracruz.
Republic of Mexico
He was compromised in the 1827 Plan de Montaño, an armed uprising against President Guadalupe Victoria that aimed to prohibit secret meetings of the YorkistsYork Rite
The York Rite or American Rite is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry. A Rite is a series of progressive degrees that are conferred by various Masonic organizations or bodies, each of which operates under the control of its own central authority...
and force the expulsion of Joel Roberts Poinsett
Joel Roberts Poinsett
Joel Roberts Poinsett was a physician, botanist and American statesman. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives, the first United States Minister to Mexico , a U.S...
, the diplomatic representative of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Colonel José Rincón, under Barragán's command in Veracruz, denounced the conspirators. Barragán was arrested at the hacienda of Santa Anna and confined in the dungeons formerly used by the Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
. Generals Guadalupe Victoria and 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...
intervened in his behalf, and he was sentenced only to temporary exile. He lived in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
and the United States.
Called back to Mexico by Santa Anna, he was Minister of War from November 20, 1833 to February 13, 1834 in the governments of Santa Anna 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...
. (He was a political supporter of Santa Anna.) During this period Barragán and Quintanar were sent to suppress rebels in the state of Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
.
President of Mexico
On January 28, 1835, he replaced Santa Anna in the presidency, on an interim basis. He took measures to help widows and poor people, partly out of his own pocket. He also suppressed an anti-Santa Anna revolt in the current state of GuerreroGuerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
. He served until February 27, 1836, when he resigned because of a grave illness. He died in the National Palace on March 1, 1836, a victim of a "putrid fever" (probably typhus
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
). He was interred in the Cathedral of Mexico City and his name was inscribed in letters of gold in the chamber where Congress met. José Justo Corro
José Justo Corro
José Justo Corro was a Mexican lawyer, politician, and president of the Republic, from March 2, 1836 to April 19, 1837.-Background:...
succeeded him in office.
External links
- Short biography at El Balero (in Spanish).