Pedro María de Anaya

Birth Date: 1795-05-20
Death Date: 1854-03-21
Gender: Male
Nationality: Mexico

Born in Guanajuato in 1795 to Spanish criollo parents, Pedro María de Anaya, like many of his contemporaries, began his military career fighting on the side of the Spanish in Mexico's War for Independence, but switched allegiances after the Plan of Iguala in 1821.

During the U.S.-Mexico War, Anaya, a moderate federalist, opposed acting president Gómez Farías' attempt to confiscate church property to finance the war effort. In late February 1847 he led the Independencia battalion against the government in the Polkos Revolt. When Santa Anna returned to Mexico City and forced Gómez Farías from office, he installed Anaya as acting president. Anaya gave up the post to assume command of the defense of Mexico City, where he led troops at the Battle of Churubusco. He served briefly as interim president again following Scott's capture of the capital.

After the U.S.-Mexico War, Anaya served as Mexico's national postmaster until his death from pneumonia in 1854.

Bibliography

Henshaw, John C., and Gary F. Kurutz. Recollections of the war with Mexico. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 2008.

México (D.F.). General Pedro María Anaya, héroe de la patria: semblanza biográfica. México: Talls. Grafs. nac., 1942.

Orozco, Fernando. Gobernantes de México. Mexico, D.F.: Panorama Editorial, 2004.

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