José María Iglesias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José María Iglesias
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| 32nd President of Mexico | |
| In office October 26, 1876 – November 28, 1876 |
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| Preceded by | Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada |
| Succeeded by | Porfirio Díaz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 January 1823 Mexico City |
| Died | 17 December 1891 (aged 68) Mexico City |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Juana Calderón Tapia |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Lawyer |
José María Iglesias Inzáurraga (born January 5, 1823 – died December 17, 1891) was an important Mexican lawyer, teacher, and journalist. He was also a liberal politician.
He is famous for creating the Iglesias law. This law was designed to stop the Church from charging high fees for religious services. It helped protect poor Mexican farmers from losing their money.
From October 1876 to January 1877, José María Iglesias claimed to be the interim president of Mexico. This happened during a time of great unrest. However, his claim was never fully accepted by everyone. The president at the time, Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, was overthrown. Porfirio Diaz then took power. After this, Iglesias went to live in the United States for a while.
Contents
Early Life and Education
José María Iglesias was born in Mexico City in 1823. His family was quite wealthy. Sadly, his father died when José was only 12 years old. Five years later, his mother also passed away.
His uncle, Manuel Inzáurraga, then took care of his education. José studied law at the Colegio Gregoriano in Mexico City. He was a very good student and became a lawyer in 1844.
Political Career Begins
José María Iglesias started his career as a law professor. He taught at the College of San Gregorio. He also wrote for a newspaper that was against the government of Antonio López de Santa Anna.
In 1846, he became a city councilman in Mexico City. When the United States invaded Mexico that same year, he joined the Supreme Military Tribunal. After the war ended, he got an important job in the Treasury Department. This was under President Mariano Arista.
Rising in Congress
In 1852, Iglesias was elected to Congress. He quickly became known for his excellent speaking skills. People also admired his deep knowledge of constitutional law.
In 1856, he became a top official in the Treasury Department. This was during President Ignacio Comonfort's time. Later, he served as the secretary of justice from January to May 1857. In this role, he helped write a law that stopped the Church from owning large amounts of land. From May to September 1857, he was the secretary of the treasury.
On September 16, 1857, people voted for him to become a judge of the Supreme Court. During the Reform War (1857–1861), he strongly supported the Liberal side. He wrote many articles defending their ideas.
Working with President Juárez
In May 1863, the French army captured Puebla. This forced President Benito Juárez to leave Mexico City. Iglesias, who was a Liberal and believed in the constitution, went with him.
In September, Juárez made him the secretary of justice. Iglesias held this job until 1867. That's when the Mexican government returned to the capital. During these years, he traveled with Juárez. They moved from place to place to avoid being captured by the French. For some of this time, he was also the secretary of the treasury.
After returning to Mexico City, Iglesias was again elected to Congress. In 1867, he became the president of the Chamber of Deputies. From September 1868 to October 1869, he was the secretary of the interior. After that, he served as secretary of justice again.
Claiming the Presidency
In 1871, Iglesias left public service due to health reasons. He returned the next year. In July 1873, he was elected president of the Supreme Court. At this time, Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada was president.
In September 1876, Congress said President Lerdo was re-elected. But Iglesias, as a judge, declared the election unfair. He said there was fraud and that the election was against the constitution. The constitution stated that if there was no legal president, the president of the Supreme Court should take charge. So, Iglesias claimed the presidency.
At the same time, General Porfirio Díaz started a rebellion. This was called the Plan de Tuxtepec. He was also against Lerdo.
Struggles for Power
Some of Iglesias's supporters were arrested by Lerdo de Tejada. Iglesias had to leave the capital city. He went to Guanajuato. There, the governor and military leaders recognized him as president. In Salamanca, he announced that he was taking over the government. He also chose people for his cabinet. By December, several states recognized him as president.
Meanwhile, Lerdo de Tejada had to leave the capital. His forces lost a battle to General Porfirio Díaz. Díaz and Iglesias tried to talk and make a deal. But Iglesias refused to accept Díaz's plan. So, Díaz marched his army against Iglesias.
Iglesias fled to Guadalajara. He set up his government there on January 2, 1877. But his forces were defeated. He then fled with his cabinet to Manzanillo, Colima. On January 16, he sailed to the United States.
Later Life and Legacy
While in New York, Iglesias wrote a book. It was called La Cuestión Presidencial de 1876. In it, he explained why he believed his claim to the presidency was right.
He returned to Mexico in 1878 without any problems. The government offered him several important jobs, but he turned them down. He became the editor of various newspapers. He also wrote books, including Apuntes para la historia de la guerra entre Méjico y los Estados Unidos (1852). This book was about the war between Mexico and the United States. He also wrote Revistas Históricas sobre la Intervención Francesa (1870). His own life story was published in 1893.
José María Iglesias died in Tacubaya, Mexico City, on December 17, 1891. In 1987, President Miguel de la Madrid ordered that Iglesias' remains be moved. They are now in the Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres. This is a special place for famous Mexicans.
See also
In Spanish: José María Iglesias para niños
- List of presidents of Mexico
