Francisco Javier Echeverría
| Francisco Javier Echeverría | |
|---|---|
 | |
 12th President of Mexico | |
| In office 22 September 1841 – 10 October 1841 | |
| Preceded by | Anastasio Bustamante |
| Succeeded by | Antonio López de Santa Anna |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 2 July 1797 Jalapa, Veracruz |
| Died | 17 September 1852 (aged 55) Mexico City |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Refugio Almanza |
Francisco Javier Echeverría (c. 2 July 1797 – 17 September 1852) was a Mexican businessman, conservative and centralist politician. He served as president of Mexico in late 1841 for a few weeks.
Early years
Francisco Javier Echeverría was born in Xalapa, Veracruz. In his youth he worked in his family's commercial firm, but soon entered politics. He was elected a deputy in the local congress in 1829. In 1834 he moved to Mexico City, where he headed the family firm of Viuda de Echeverría y Hijos.
National politics
President Antonio López de Santa Anna named him secretary of the treasury. He served in this position from 5 May 1834 to 1 September of the same year, when he resigned over disagreements with the government of Santa Anna.
Two years later he was a member of the Council of State under Anastasio Bustamante, in the latter's second term as president. Echeverría was again secretary of the treasury, still under Bustamante (27 July 1839 to 23 March 1841). This was after the Pastry War with France, and the treasury was bankrupt. His commercial firm lent 662,000 pesos to the government in copper, receiving payment in silver. He was much attacked for this in the press. He imposed a tax of 3 per 1,000 on rural and urban property and raised the consumption tax 10%. He wanted to amortize the copper coinage through an agreement with the tobacco firms. By these and other measures he greatly improved the situation of the treasury.
President of Mexico
On 21 September 1841 Congress named him interim president of Mexico, while Bustamante was in the field leading troops against his enemies. Echeverría held the office of president until 10 October. He left office when the Liberals returned to power. He retired from politics for a time, but made his return in 1850 as a congressional deputy.
Later he was president of the committee on prisons and also of the Academy of San Carlos. The Academy prospered under his leadership, acquiring its own building, attracting European teachers, and gaining a reputation as the best fine arts academy in America. He was founder and first director of a reformatory for young men.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Anastasio Bustamante |
President of Mexico 22 September - 10 October 1841 |
Succeeded by Antonio López de Santa Anna |
References
- (Spanish) "Echeverría, Francisco Javier," 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.
|