Pedro Velez

José Pedro Antonio Vélez de Zúñiga (Villanueva, Zacatecas; July 28, 1787-Mexico City, August 5, 1848) was a Mexican politician, lawyer, philosopher and doctor of law. He headed the triumvirate in charge of the executive branch of Mexico along with Luis Quintanar and Lucas Alamán at the end of December 1829.

Origins and education

He was born in the town of Villagutierre del Águila (today Villanueva), in the state of Zacatecas. He was the son of María Isabel Zúñiga and Pedro Vélez, who in 1805 founded and integrated the first town hall of Villanueva.

He began his training at the Colegio de San Luis Gonzaga in the city of Zacatecas. Later, he moved to Guadalajara where he continued his studies at the Conciliar Seminary. He received his law degree on March 13, 1803 and a doctor of philosophy on February 9, 1804 from the University of Guadalajara.

After completing his career, he received the title of lawyer from the Royal Court of Guadalajara and at the University the degrees of Licentiate and Doctor of Canon Law on April 29 and June 3, 1810, respectively, and those of Licentiate and Doctor in Civil Law on August 24, 1817 and August 9, 1818. He was a teacher at the aforementioned university. During those same years, he was under the command of General Cruz, captain general of the province of Guadalajara.

Political career

When independence was consummated in 1821, Vélez began his political career. He was elected councilor of the Guadalajara City Council. In 1822 he was appointed secretary of the Provincial Council and appeared as a deputy in the Constituent Congress of Jalisco between 1823 and 1824.

Subsequently, Vélez went to live in Mexico City, where he joined the Bar on January 24, 1825. He joined the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation as a minister. He succeeded José Miguel Domínguez as president of the Supreme Court, from 1828 to 1830.

After the government of José María Bocanegra had been overthrown, he was called to occupy the executive branch on December 23, 1829. On the same day, a government board was formed with Vélez, Lucas Alamán and Luis Quintanar, who served until December 31 of the same year, when he handed over federal executive power to Anastasio Bustamante.

Last years and death

After leaving the executive position, Vélez represented the state of Zacatecas before the Senate of the Republic. He held the portfolio of Justice and Ecclesiastical Business from February 22, 1842 to July 17, 1843 during the administration of Santa Anna and held other representative positions. At the age of 61, due to natural causes, Vélez died in the capital of the Republic on August 5, 1848, while a magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice.