Melchor Múzquiz

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Melchor Múzquiz

In office August 14, 1832 – December 26, 1832
Preceded by	Anastasio Bustamante
Succeeded by	Manuel Gómez Pedraza

Born	1790 Santa Rosa, Coahuila
Died	December 14, 1844 Mexico City
Spouse	Joaquina Bezares

Melchor Múzquiz (1790, Santa Rosa (now Ciudad Melchor Múzquiz, Coahuila—December 14, 1844, Mexico City) was a Mexican soldier and politician. From August to December 1832 he was president of Mexico.

1 War of Independence and First Empire
2 Republic of Mexico
3 Acting president
4 Later career and death
5 References
6 External links

[edit] War of Independence and First Empire

Múzquiz was born January 5, 1790 or sometime in March of that year, depending on the source. He studied at the Colegio de San Ildefonso in Mexico City. While still a student, he enlisted in the forces of General Ignacio López Rayón in 1810 in Coahuila to fight for Mexican independence. He took part in many engagements, and conducted himself with valor. In 1812 he was a lieutenant. In 1813 he led the infantry in the defense of Zacapu. In November 1816, now a colonel, he was taken prisoner at Fort Monteblanco, near Córdova, Veracruz. He was freed under a general amnesty, even though he refused to give his word that he would not fight again against the viceregal government.

In 1821 he supported the Plan de Iguala, which resulted in Agustín de Iturbide ascending the throne as Mexico's first emperor. However, as a congressional deputy he did not support this result, as he was a republican. He and other deputies proposed that Iturbide be declared a traitor. During the rebellion against the emperor, he joined the Plan de Casa Mata, but he did not have the confidence of the leaders, who considered him a radical.

[edit] Republic of Mexico

In 1823 to 1824 he was supreme political chief of the Province of Mexico. On March 2, 1824 the new Mexican Congress changed his title to governor of the State of Mexico. He returned for a second period as governor of the state from April 26, 1830 to October 1, 1830.

He was also general of a division under President Guadalupe Victoria and military commandant of Puebla. In Puebla, together with General Filisola, he rose against President Vicente Guerrero on December 10, 1828 (Plan de Jalapa). Múzquiz was initially defeated by José Joaquín de Herrera, but the rebellion was successful. He was one of the individuals who offered the presidency to Anastasio Bustamante.

[edit] Acting president

In 1832 when Antonio López de Santa Anna revolted, President Bustamante left the capital to fight the rebels, leaving Múzquiz as acting president (August 14, 1832 to December 26, 1832). Neither Bustamante nor Santa Anna could prevail. Manuel Gómez Pedraza assumed the presidency on December 24 as the result of an agreement between the warring factions (Convenios de Zavaleta) and a congressional resolution, after 11 months of fighting. Múzquiz was the first president to collect taxes on doors and windows.

[edit] Later career and death

In 1836 he was president of the Supremo Poder Conservador. This was an institution of five members established under the Siete Leyes with the power to dissolve Congress or the Supreme Court.

He was a candidate for president in 1843, but Santa Anna won the office. He died in December 1844, in poverty, remembered for his scrupulous honesty in the management of public funds. He was buried with full honors in the Cemetery of Santa Paula. Múzquiz was officially benemérito de la patria en grado heroico, an honor bestowed by Congress.

[edit] References

(Spanish) "Múzquiz, Melchor," Enciclopedia de México, vol. 10. Mexico City, 1996, ISBN 1-56409-016-7.
(Spanish) García Puron, Manuel, México y sus gobernantes, v. 2. Mexico City: Joaquín Porrúa, 1984.
(Spanish) Orozco Linares, Fernando, Gobernantes de México. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1985, ISBN 968-38-0260-5.