Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada

Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada y Corral (Xalapa, Veracruz, April 24, 1823 - New York, United States, April 22, 1889) was a Mexican politician and lawyer who served as president of Mexico from July 18, 1872 to November 20, 1876.

Studies and early years

He was born in Xalapa, Veracruz; son of camerano merchant don Juan Antonio Lerdo de Tejada y Matute, and doña Concepción Corral y Bustillos; His brother was Miguel Lerdo de Tejada, a liberal politician, both descendants of the very old and illustrious Solar de Tejada. He worked at his father's store in his hometown. He studied grammar and obtained a scholarship to study at the Palafoxiano College in Puebla. He was about to receive his priesthood, but he abandoned it to later go to the Colegio de San Ildefonso to study jurisprudence.

Political career

He was a prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Justice and Minister of Foreign Relations during the government of Ignacio Comonfort. He served as rector of the Colegio de San Ildefonso, however later he entered the Union Congress as a deputy. He was a liberal and nationalist man. In 1863 he was Minister of Justice and later of Foreign Relations from 1863 to 1868 and from 1868 to 1870 during the government of Benito Juárez. Starting in 1863 he accompanied Benito Juárez during his pilgrimage through northern Mexico during the French intervention (1863-1867).

In 1871, once the Republic had been restored, Lerdo and General Porfirio Díaz presented themselves as candidates for the presidency of the Republic as opponents of President Juárez in the federal elections of 1871, Juárez managed to be reelected, and Lerdo joined to the government as president of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. For his part, Díaz rose up in arms with the La Noria Plan. This rebellion did not have a greater echo. On July 18, 1872, Benito Juárez died, which was announced by José María Lafragua, and Lerdo, who held the position of president of the Supreme Court, assumed the presidency on an interim basis.

Presidential term

In October, the elections for president of the Mexican Republic were called. Porfirio Díaz and Lerdo de Tejada presented themselves as candidates. In the extraordinary elections of 1872, the latter defeated Díaz. On the other hand, José María Iglesias won the contest against Vicente Riva Palacio and obtained the position of president of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. On December 1, 1872, Lerdo de Tejada officially assumed the presidency for the period from 1872 to 1876.

During his tenure, he made progress in the pacification of the country, bled dry by constant wars and uprisings since the consummation of Independence in 1821. He confronted Manuel Lozada "el Tigre de Alica" who had risen up in arms in Tepic demanding an agrarian reform for the benefit of the peasants, defeating him in March 1873. On September 23, 1873, he elevated the Reform Laws to constitutional rank, consequently the Jesuits and the Sisters were expelled of the charity. On the other hand, he reinstated the Chamber of Senators, to be a counterweight to the Chamber of Deputies, inaugurated the railway from Mexico to Veracruz and sought the elimination of chiefdoms and the integration of the country. He promoted the industry with the help of foreign capital, mainly from France and the United Kingdom, trying to avoid the American.

On September 11, 1875, he was a founding member of the Mexican Academy of Language, occupying chair VII.

Re-election and Plan of Tuxtepec

Sepulchre of Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada in the Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres (Mexico).

Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada.

Towards the end of his presidential term, a propaganda campaign was launched to seek re-election, which produced general outrage throughout the country. In 1876 he tried to make legal modifications to allow his re-election. During the elections, Lerdo de Tejada was supported by the Legislative Branch which declared the result valid in favor of Lerdo and therefore the winner of the 1876 presidential elections, however the Judiciary headed by Iglesias declared that the elections had been fraudulent..

On January 15, Porfirio Díaz took advantage of the situation to rise up in arms through the Plan of Tuxtepec. Díaz modified the plan in Palo Blanco, with the aim of winning supporters, recognized José María Iglesias as interim president, while Lerdo tried to ensure re-election by imposing obligations on soldiers and public employees to vote for him. Iglesias decided not to agree with Díaz and left the capital issuing a manifesto in Salamanca. This time, the rebellion triumphed in the Battle of Tecoac. Lerdo found himself in need of resigning, handed over power to Protasio Tagle and left the country in January 1877; Iglesias conferred with Díaz, with very little support, he was also forced to leave the country for the United States.

Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada lived the rest of his life in exile in New York City. He never married. He died on April 22, 1889, his remains were transferred to Mexico and deposited in the Rotunda of Illustrious Persons.