José Urrea
| José de Urrea | |
|---|---|
General José de Urrea
|
|
| Born |
March 19, 1797 Tucson, The Californias, New Spain |
| Died | August 1, 1849 (aged 52) Mexico City, Mexico |
| Allegiance |
 New Spain Mexico
|
| Service/branch |
Spanish Army Mexican Army
|
| Years of service | 1807-1824 (Spain) 1829-1846 (Mexico) |
| Rank |
Captain (Spain) General (Mexico) |
| Battles/wars | Mexican American War |
José de Urrea (March 19, 1797 – August 1, 1849) was a Mexican general. He fought under General Antonio López de Santa Anna during the Texas Revolution. Urrea's forces were never defeated in battle during the Texas Revolution. His most notable success was that of the Goliad Campaign, in which James Fannin's 400 soldiers were surrounded and induced to capitulate under terms, but were massacred in Urrea's absence on the orders of Santa Anna. Urrea also fought in the Mexican-American War.
Urrea was born at El Presidio de San Augustín de Tucson (now the U.S. city of Tucson, Arizona), during Spanish regime of the region. Despite being born on the northern frontier of Mexico, his family had deep roots in the state of Durango.
In 1807 Urrea entered the Spanish army. In 1824 he rose to the rank of captain, but he resigned from the army and entered private life. In 1829 he rejoined the military as a major and helped to liberate the city of Durango, allying himself with Antonio López de Santa Anna. He was promoted to colonel for his actions. In 1835 he reluctantly took part in Santa Anna's attack on the state of Zacatecas (the state had openly rebelled against his rise to power). Santa Anna promoted Urrea to Brigadier General for his role in this.
When the Mexican state of Texas also revolted against Santa Anna's Centralist government, Urrea was sent there to help put down the colonists. He defeated small groups of Texan forces at the Battle of San Patricio, Battle of Refugio, Goliad and Battle of Coleto. The last, also known as the "Goliad Massacre", included the deliberate slaughter of Texans who had surrendered. The execution of prisoners, however, was not Urrea's choice, but an order by General Santa Anna.
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