Pedro María de Anaya

Pedro María de Anaya
Portrait of Pedro María de Anaya
17th President of Mexico
In office 2 April 1847 – 20 May 1847
Preceded by	Antonio López de Santa Anna
Succeeded by	Antonio López de Santa Anna
In office 13 November 1847 – 8 January 1848
Preceded by	Manuel de la Peña y Peña
Succeeded by	Manuel de la Peña y Peña
Personal details
Born	(1795-05-20)20 May 1795 Huichapan, Hidalgo, Mexico
Died	21 March 1854(1854-03-21) (aged 58) Mexico City, Mexico

Pedro Bernardino María de Anaya y de Alvarez (20 May 1795 – 21 March 1854) was a military officer who served twice as interim president of Mexico from 1847 to 1848. He also played an important role during the Mexican-American War.

He was born on 20 May 1795 in , a town located in the modern-day state of Hidalgo. His parents were Pedro José Anaya y Maldonado and María Antonia de Álvarez, both Spaniards. He started his military career in the Royal Army in 1810, as a cadet in the company of Tres Villas. In June 1821 he joined the rebel army fighting for independence.

In 1847, after the victory of the invading U.S. Army in the Battle of Padierna (also known as the Battle of Contreras), the Mexican battalions of Independencia and Bravo were attacked in the convent of Santa María de Churubusco. This confrontation is known as the Battle of Churubusco, and the Mexican army was bravely commanded by Pedro María Anaya. When General Anaya was asked by General Twiggs to surrender his ammunition after the end of the battle, he was reputed to have replied, "If I had any ammunition, you would not be here".

The battle was important not only because the American victory made it possible for them to win the Mexican-American War; it also was important because of the historical participation of the Saint Patrick's Battalion.

Today the nearest metro station from the Santa María de Churubusco convent in Mexico City is called "Metro General Anaya". The General Anaya metro station in Monterrey is also named after Pedro María Anaya.