José Justo Corro

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José Justo Corro
President of Mexico
In office March 2, 1836 – April 19, 1837
Preceded by	Miguel Barragán
Succeeded by	Anastasio Bustamante
Born	ca. 1794 Guadalajara, Jalisco
Died	ca. December 18, 1864 Guadalajara, Jalisco

José Justo Corro (ca. 1794, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico—ca. December 18, 1864, Guadalajara) was a Mexican lawyer, politician, and president of the Republic, from March 2, 1836 to April 19, 1837.

[edit] Background

Corro was born between 1786 and 1800. (Sources vary considerably.) Little is known of his early or personal life. He went to law school in Guadalajara before moving to Mexico City. He made a name for himself in the capital as a lawyer. He was extremely religious, politically conservative, and a dedicated follower of Antonio López de Santa Anna.

He was minister of justice and ecclesiastical affairs in the cabinet of President Miguel Barragán from March 18, 1835 to February 26, 1836. Barragán had become interim president in the absence of Antonio López de Santa Anna, who was fighting rebels in Zacatecas. Barragán, however, died of typhus on March 1, 1836, still in office, with Santa Anna again absent from the capital (this time fighting rebels in Texas). In those circumstances, the Chamber of Deputies on February 27, 1836 named Corro interim president. He formally took office on March 2.

[edit] As president

Corro served until April 19, 1837. During his term of office, Santa Anna was defeated and taken prisoner in Texas; Mexican forces retreated from Texas, in effect conceding the loss of the province; charges were brought against Filisola for having obeyed the orders of Santa Anna to abandon Texas (to save Santa Anna's life). Also, diplomatic relations were suspended with the United States. As an economy measure, the government introduced new, debased 1½- and 3-centavo coins, resulting in riots.

President Corro ordered masses said for the release of Santa Anna. He also took unsuccessful steps to continue the war with the Texas rebels and suppress the rebellion. These efforts were unpopular. When Santa Anna was released, he returned to his hacienda, without anyone holding him accountable for his actions.

Corro negotiated with the Vatican, and obtained recognition of Mexico's independence. The treasury was in bad shape, and the country was disorganized and demoralized because of the war in Texas and for other reasons. The clergy had great influence, both within and outside of the government.

The most important event of Corro's administration, however, was the promulgation by Congress on December 30, 1836 of the Siete Leyes Constitucionales, in effect a new constitution centralizing the government in the capital, at the expense of the states. The Siete Leyes replaced the federalist Constitution of 1824. They abrogated universal suffrage and imposed a literacy test for voting.

In March 1837 French admiral Brotounier brought a diplomatic message about French claims against Mexico, threatening the breaking of relations.

Corro was said to be excessively religious, timid, vacillating, and with little energy and no military skills. His government was so devoted to religious practices that he was nicknamed the saint.

Having lost the support of all the political parties, in 1837 Corro called elections. On April 19 of that year he turned over the government to General Anastasio Bustamante (his second term) and retired to private life in Guadalajara. He died there in 1864.

[edit] References

• (Spanish) "Corro, José Justo," Enciclopedia de México, v. 4. Mexico City, 1996, ISBN 1-56409-016-7.
• (Spanish) García Puron, Manuel, México y sus gobernantes, v. 2. Mexico City: Joaquín Porrua, 1984.
• (Spanish) Orozco Linares, Fernando, Gobernantes de México. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1985, ISBN 968-38-0260-5.
• (Spanish) Santibáñez, Enrique, El Ejecutivo y su labor política. Estudios de historia nacional contemporénea. 1916.

Preceded by Miguel Barragán

President of Mexico 1836 - 1837

Succeeded by Anastasio Bustamante