- Guadalupe Victoria
Infobox_President | name=Guadalupe Victoria
caption=A painting of Guadalupe Victoria.
order=1stPresident of Mexico
term_start=October 10 ,1824
term_end=April 1 ,1829
predecessor=Agustín I ,Emperor of Mexico
successor=Vicente Guerrero
birth_date=birth date|1786|9|29|mf=y
birth_place=Tamazula,Durango
dead=dead
death_date=death date and age|1843|3|21|1786|9|29|mf=y
death_place=Perote ,Veracruz
Guadalupe Victoria, born José Miguel Ramón Adaucto Fernández y Félix (
September 29 ,1786 -March 21 ,1843 ), was a Mexican revolutionary soldier who fought for independence againstSpain in theMexican War of Independence and later became the firstPresident of Mexico .Victoria was born in 1786 in
Tamazula de Victoria ,Durango . He studiedlaw at theColegio de San Ildefonso . In 1811 he joined the revolution proclaimed byMiguel Hidalgo y Costilla and fought underJosé María Morelos . After Morelos's execution he joined forces withVicente Guerrero and fought in the regions ofVeracruz andPuebla .After his defeat near the town of Palmillas, Veracruz, he remained hidden in the mountains until
Agustín de Iturbide and Guerrero issued thePlan de Iguala , which called for an independent Mexico governed by aconstitutional monarchy . Firmly republican, he supported GeneralAntonio López de Santa Anna and signed thePlan de Casa Mata with the purpose to overthrow Emperor Iturbide.He became the first president of Mexico after the overthrow of Emperor Iturbide. Victoria chose his new name for symbolic significance: "Guadalupe" to give thanks to what he claimed was the protection of
Our Lady of Guadalupe , and "Victoria", which means victory.During his tenure he abolished slavery, established the "
Colegio Militar " (Military Academy), and signed diplomatic treaties with all major powers. In 1827, Victoria's presidential term was disrupted when his vice presidentNicolás Bravo led a revolt against the Republic government. However, the insurgency was easily suppressed by Generals Santa Anna and Guerrero. In 1828, Bravo was captured and exiled toEcuador .Victoria died of epilepsy in
Perote ,Veracruz , in 1843 and was buried there. On August 25, 1845 he was declared "Benemérito de la Patria" (Hero of the Nation) by Congress. In 1925 his remains were moved to themausoleum at the base of El Ángel de la Independencia inMexico City .Legacy
Victoria is a national
hero of Mexico. The town ofTamazula de Victoria is named after him.See also
*
History of Mexico
*List of Presidents of Mexico External links
* [http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/history/jtuck/jtfirstpres.html Mexico connect: History of Mexico: Guadalupe Victoria -Presidente Desconocido]
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