Guadalupe Victoria

Guadalupe Victoria
Portrait of Guadalupe Victoria
1st President of Mexico
In office 10 October 1824 – 31 March 1829
Vice President	Nicolás Bravo
Preceded by	Supreme Executive Power
Succeeded by	Vicente Guerrero
Personal details
Born	José Miguel Ramón Adaucto Fernández y Félix 29 September 1786 Tamazula, Nueva Vizcaya
Died	21 March 1843 (aged 56) San Carlos Fortress, Perote, Veracruz
Resting place	Column of Independence
Nationality	Mexican New Spanish (prior to 1821)
Political party	None
Spouse(s)	María Antonia Bretón
Alma mater	San Ildefonso College
Occupation	Lawyer Soldier (General)
Religion	Catholic
Signature

Guadalupe Victoria (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡwaðaˈlupe βikˈtoɾja]; 29 September 1786 – 21 March 1843), born José Miguel Ramón Adaucto Fernández y Félix, was a Mexican general and political leader who fought for independence against the Spanish Empire in the Mexican War of Independence. He was a deputy in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies for Durango and a member of the Supreme Executive Power following the downfall of the First Mexican Empire. After the adoption of the Constitution of 1824, Victoria was elected as the first President of the United Mexican States.

During his term as President he established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom, the United States, the Federal Republic of Central America, and Gran Colombia. He also abolished slavery, founded the National Museum, promoted education, and ratified the border with the United States of America. As far as relations with the former colonial overlords of Mexico were concerned, he decreed a law to expel the Spaniards remaining in the country and defeated the last Spanish stronghold in the castle of San Juan de Ulúa.

Victoria was the only president who completed his full term in more than 30 years of an independent Mexico. He died in 1843 at the age of 56 from epilepsy in the fortress of Perote, where he was receiving medical treatment. On 8 April of the same year, it was decreed that his name would be written in golden letters in the session hall of the Chamber of Deputies.