José Mariano Salas

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José Mariano Salas

In office August 5, 1846 – December 23, 1846 January 21, 1859 – February 2, 1859
Preceded by	Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga
Succeeded by	Valentín Gómez Farías

Born	May 11, 1797 Mexico City
Died	December 24, 1867 Mexico City
Spouse	Josefa Cardeña

José Mariano de Salas (May 11, 1797, Mexico City—December 24, 1867, Mexico City) was a Mexican general and politician. Twice, in 1846 and 1859, he was interim president of Mexico. He was also a member of the executive trimvirate of the Second Empire that invited Maximilian of Habsburg to take the throne.

1 Early years
2 As president
3 The War of the Reform and the Second Empire
4 Notes
5 References

[edit] Early years

Salas entered the military in 1813 as an infantry cadet in the Regimiento de Infantes de Puebla, a royalist regiment. His first actions were against the insurgents. He was with Antonio López de Santa Anna at the capture of Jalapa, Veracruz. In 1821 he accepted the Plan de Iguala for Mexican independence.

He was a defender of the government of President Guadalupe Victoria at the time of the revolt of Plan de Montaño in 1827. He fought in Tampico against the invasion of the Spaniard Isidro Barradas in 1829. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1832. He commanded one of the columns in the assault on the Alamo, and fought in the action at Llano Perdido. He covered the retreat of the Mexican forces to Matamoros.

On July 15, 1840 he took part the the suppression of a revolt by soldiers at the National Palace. In 1844 he was exiled for his support of Santa Anna.

[edit] As president

On August 4, 1846 from the Ciudadela in Mexico City he revolted against General Mariano Paredes, who had just temporarily turned over the presidency to Nicolás Bravo to take the field against other rebels. Salas proclaimed the reestablishment of the federalist régime. (Paredes was a centralist.)

Salas was president from August 5, 1846 to December 23, 1846. He immediately reestablished the federalist Constitution of 1824 and convoked a new Congress. He worked hard to enlarge the militia and raise money for the upcoming war with the United States. In December he turned over power to Santa Anna (as president) and Valentín Gómez Farías (as vice-president and acting president).

In 1847 Salas was promoted to general of division. As second in command of the Ejército del Norte (Northern Army), he fought the Americans in the Mexican-American War. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Contreras (Padierna) on August 20, 1847. After the peace treaty he was named military commander and governor of Querétaro.

[edit] The War of the Reform and the Second Empire

He served a second term as acting president during the War of the Reform, from January 21, 1859 to February 2, 1859, while awaiting the return of Miguel Miramón. Miramón (and Salas as his substitute) claimed the presidency for the Conservative cause.

As commander of the garrison of Mexico City, on June 1, 1863 he formed part of the Executive Power of the Conservative government in the War of the Reform. This lasted until June 21, 1863, when the Regency of the Empire was formed. Together with General Juan Nepomuceno Almonte and Archbishop Antonio de Labastida^[1] he formed the triumvirate that exercised power during the Regency, under the protection of French arms (June 21, 1863 to June 12, 1864). It was the Regency that sent representatives to Maximilian of Habsburg to offer him the imperial throne of Mexico. Maximilian assumed the throne on June 12, 1864. However, Benito Juárez remained as constitutional president throughout this period, and throughout the Empire.

[edit] Notes

^ Juan Bautista de Ormaechea replaced Labastida on the council after the latter was removed on November 17, 1863.

[edit] References

(Spanish) "Salas, José Mariano," Enciclopedia de México, v. 12. 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.

Preceded by Mariano Paredes	Acting President of Mexico 1846	Succeeded by Valentín Gómez Farías
Preceded by Manuel Robles Pezuela	Anti-constitutional President of Mexico 1859	Succeeded by Miguel Miramón
Preceded by Juan Nepomuceno Almonte (Supreme Chief of the Nation)	Regent of the Mexican Empire with Juan Nepomuceno Almonte, Antonio de Labastida and Juan Bautista de Ormaechea 1863–1864	Succeeded by Maximilian I (Emperor of Mexico)