Manuel María Lombardini

Manuel María Lombardini
21st President of Mexico
In office 8 February 1853 – 20 April 1853
Preceded by	Juan Bautista Ceballos
Succeeded by	Antonio López de Santa Anna
Personal details
Born	(1802-07-23)23 July 1802 Mexico City, New Spain
Died	22 December 1853(1853-12-22) (aged 51) Mexico City, Mexico
Political party	Conservative
Military service
Allegiance	Mexico
Branch/service	Mexican Army

Manuel José María Ignacio Lombardini de la Torre (23 July 1802 – 22 December 1853) was a Mexican general and politician who supported Antonio López de Santa Anna. From 8 February 1853 to 20 April 1853, he served as president of Mexico.

Biography

He joined the army at age 12, enlisting as a cadet in the Company of Patriots of Tacubaya during the Mexican War of Independence. After the war, he retired from the army, but returned in 1832.

In 1836, he fought in the Texas War, where he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and in 1838 in the Pastry War against France. In 1847, during the United States invasion, he gained fame at the Battle of Buena Vista. Also in 1847, he was given the military command of the state of Querétaro. In 1849, he became commander of the army (jefe de la plana mayor del ejército). In 1853, now a brigadier, he received command of the state of Mexico.

In 1853, he took part in the revolt of Jalisco against General Mariano Arista, who was serving as president. Juan Bautista Ceballos occupied the presidency briefly, and then transferred power to Lombardini as provisional president.

Lombardini served from 8 February 1853 to 20 April 1853, when Santa Anna returned to the presidency from exile in Jamaica. As president, he improved the roads to Veracruz and Acapulco and regulated navigation on Lake Chalco. He also founded the school of engineering at the Academia de San Carlos and introduced certain policy initiatives, such as an order to require convicted criminals in Mexico City to receive instruction in Christian doctrine.

Lombardini wrote a famous letter to the Mexican politician and political theorist Lucas Alamán that outlined the principles that should underpin the political program of conservatives. He approved Alamán's reasoning and prepared an electoral charade to legitimize the return of ex-president Santa Anna. Before handing over power, Lombardini issued a decree by which Santa Anna was appointed "Captain General of sea and land, with absolute powers". Shortly afterwards he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Army and Commanding General. Santa Anna also named him commander of the garrison of Mexico City, where he would die a few months later, in December.

See also

• List of heads of state of Mexico

References

• "Lombardini, Manuel María", Enciclopedia de México, v. 8. Mexico City, 1996, ISBN 1-56409-016-7.
• García Puron, Manuel, México y sus gobernantes, v. 2. Mexico City: Joaquín Porrúa, 1984.
• Orozco Linares, Fernando, Gobernantes de México. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 1985, ISBN 968-38-0260-5.
• www.bicentenario.gob.mx [1]