Military officer; born in
Jalapa, Mexico, Feb. 21, 1798; began his military career in 1821 in the revolution by which
Mexico  |
|
Antonio Lopez De Santa Ana. |
achieved its independence of
Spain.
Imperious, disobedient, and revengeful, he was dismissed from the service.
A keen intriguer, he secured the overthrow of the existing government in
Mexico in 1828.
He was a brave and rather successful military leader, and led insurrection after insurrection, until in March, 1833, he obtained his election to the Presidency of the republic of
Mexico.
He was a favorite with the army, but unpopular with the natives.
There were repeated insurrections during his administration, and, finally, discontents in
Texas broke out into revolution.
Santa Ana took the field in person against the revolutionists, but was finally defeated at
San Jacinto and taken prisoner, when he was deposed from the Presidency.
In taking part in defending
Vera Cruz against the
French in 1837 he was wounded and lost a leg by amputation.
In the long contest between the Federalists and Centralists, taking part with the former, he was virtually dictator of
Mexico from Oct. 10, 1841, to June 4, 1844, under the title of provisional
President.
He was constitutional
President from June 4 to Sept. 20, 1844, when he was deposed by a new revolution, taken prisoner near Tlacolula, Jan. 15, 1845, and banished for ten years. He took up his residence in
Cuba, where he secretly negotiated for the betrayal of his country to the
United States.
He was allowed to pass through
Commodore Conner's fleet into
Mexico, where he was appointed generalissimo of the army, and in December was again elected provisional
President.
With an army of 20,000 men he lost the
battle of Buena Vista.
He was afterwards defeated in
battle at Cerro Gordo, and about the middle of September, 1847, was driven with nearly 2,000 followers from the city of
Mexico.
He was deposed, and in April, 1848, fled from the country to
Jamaica, W. I. He returned to
Mexico in 1853, where he was received with great enthusiasm and appointed
President for one year, after which time he was to call a constitutional Congress; but he fomented a new revolution by which he was
[
53]
declared
President for life, with power to appoint his successor.
He began to rule despotically, and was soon confronted by a revolution led by
General Alvarez.
After a struggle of two years, he signed his unconditional abdication, and sailed for
Cuba, Aug. 16, 1855.
He afterwards spent two years in
Venezuela, and thence went to
St. Thomas.
During the
French military occupation of
Mexico he appeared there and pledged himself to take no part in public affairs.
But his passion for intrigue could not be repressed, and having issued a manifesto calculated to raise a disturbance in his
 |
|
A Santa Fe House. |
favor,
General Bazaine ordered him to quit the country forever in May, 1864.
Some time afterwards, the Emperor Maximilian made him grand-marshal of the empire; but in 1865, having been implicated in a conspiracy against the
Emperor, he fled to
St. Thomas.
In 1867 he again made an attempt to gain ascendency in
Mexico, but was taken prisoner at
Vera Cruz and condemned to be shot.
President Juarez pardoned him on condition of his quitting
Mexico forever.
He came to the
United States.
After the death of
Juarez he was permitted to return to his native country, and afterwards lived in seclusion in the city of
Mexico, where he died, June 20, 1876.
