Jose Maria Bocanegra

José María de los Dolores Francisco Germán del Espíritu Santo Bocanegra y Villalpando (Calvillo, Municipality of Zacatecas, July 25, 1787-Mexico City, July 23, 1862), was a Mexican politician, lawyer, economist, writer, and historian who rose to prominence as interim president of Mexico between December 17 and 23, 1829.

He is the only character who has held the title of the three powers of the Union in Mexico.^{[citation required]}

Biography

Early years and studies

He was born on May 25, 1787 on the farm of La Labor de la Troje, Calvillo, Municipality of Zacatecas (now Aguascalientes). He was the eldest of the four children —Ramón, María Guadalupe and Francisca— of Félix Bocanegra and Manuela Villalpando.

His childhood was spent in the cities of Aguascalientes and Guadalajara. He completed his jurisprudence studies in Mexico City, where he enrolled in San Ildefonso, home of the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico, predecessor of UNAM. In that house of studies he graduated as a lawyer, as well as an economist and historian.

Political career

In the last years of New Spain, Bocanegra worked at the Royal Court and was an honorary member of the Bar Association. He adhered to the Plan of Iguala and in January 1822 he was elected Deputy in the First Constituent Congress, helping in the creation of the Constitution of 1824. He strongly supported the accession of Agustín de Iturbide to the throne, but opposed the abusive exercise of the can.

On January 26, 1829, he was appointed Minister of Interior and Exterior Relations in the administration of General Guadalupe Victoria. As of April 1 of that same year, he held that position during the government of Vicente Guerrero. On December 17 of that same year, Vice President Anastasio Bustamante rose up in arms against President Vicente Guerrero, who requested authorization from Congress to separate from power and assume command of the army that was to end the Bustamante rebellion. Bocanegra then took over the Presidency, on an interim basis, by appointment of the Chamber on December 16 of the same year.

Presidency

On December 17, 1829, Bocanegra assumed the presidency, holding it until December 23. His government lasted seven days, because on the night of the 22nd, the garrison of Mexico City rebelled in favor of Bustamante and advanced on the National Palace. The first attempt by the insurgents, under the command of General Luis Quintanar, to take the Palace failed; then the rebels surrounded the building, and after a brief exchange of shots, where they even threw artillery grenades on it, Bocanegra surrendered. When the white flag appeared, symbol of his surrender, José María ordered the doors of the Palace to be opened.

Then the Governing Council met and decided to call the president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Mr. Pedro Vélez, naming Luis Quintanar and the politician Lucas Alamán as associates. Bocanegra signed his resignation and retired for a time, to private life.

That same day, by agreement of the government council, a triumvirate headed by Pedro Vélez, President of the Supreme Court of Justice, along with Luis Quintanar and Lucas Alamán, took over the executive.

Later Years

Without a true political vocation, Bocanegra placed himself in the most important positions within Mexican jurisprudence, without ambitious aims. He would be Minister of Finance in the administrations of Dr. Valentín Gómez Farías and with Antonio López de Santa Anna. He was appointed again by Santa Anna, Minister of Relations, holding office from 1841 to 1842, in 1843 and in 1844. He held the same position during the governments of Nicolás Bravo and Valentín Canalizo. He also served as president of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation between 1839 and 1841.

In 1844 he retired from political life to pursue his profession as a lawyer. Bocanegra's fame was not established as president, it was achieved as a historian, since one of the classic books for understanding the 19th century is due to him: Memories for the history of independent Mexico, 1822-1846.

Death

He died at his home, located in what is now the corner of Isabel la Católica and Tacuba in Mexico City, on July 23, 1862 at the age of 75. His remains rest in the parish church of San Ángel, Mexico City. His nephew, Francisco González Bocanegra, author of the Mexican National Anthem, died a year before him hiding in the basement of lawyer José María Bocanegra. ^{[citation needed ]}

Family

He was married to María de Jesús Carranco; with whom he had three daughters.