Juan N. Méndez

For the municipality, see Juan N. Méndez (municipality).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Méndez and the second or maternal family name is Sánchez.

Juan Nepomuceno Méndez Sánchez (2 July 1820 – 29 November 1894) was a Mexican general, a Liberal politician and confidant of Porfirio Díaz, and interim president of the Republic for a few months during the Porfiriato. He served from 6 December 1876 until 17 February 1877.^[1]

Juan Nepomuceno Méndez
34th President of Mexico
In office 6 December 1876 – 17 February 1877
Preceded by	Porfirio Díaz
Succeeded by	Porfirio Díaz
Personal details
Born	(1820-07-02)2 July 1820 Tetela de Ocampo, Puebla, New Spain
Died	29 November 1894(1894-11-29) (aged 74) Mexico City, Mexico
Resting place	Panteón de Dolores
Nationality	Mexican
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Trinidad González y Castruera^[citation needed]

Biography

Before the presidency

Born in Tetela de Ocampo in the Sierra Norte de Puebla, Méndez worked in commerce and livestock until 1847. In that year, he enlisted in the army to fight the United States in the Mexican–American War. He continued in the army after the war, and on 15 December 1854 he was named commander of a battalion in the Puebla National Guard. His unit adhered to the Plan de Ayutla in 1854 and took an active part in the War of the Reform, the War of the French Intervention and the war opposing Emperor Maximilian.^{[citation needed]}

He defended Puebla against the rebels of Zacapoaxtla in January 1856 and fought the Conservatives in the mountains of Puebla and Tlaxcala in 1857. The same year, he was promoted to colonel of infantry. In 1858, he was made treasurer of the State of Puebla and prefect of the Department of Zacatlán.^{[citation needed]}

He fought in the Battle of Puebla against the French on 5 May 1862 and took part in the defense of the city during the subsequent siege. On 27 July 1863, he was promoted to brigadier general. That year, he was also named governor and military commander of Puebla.^[1]

He was later taken prisoner by the French, who sent him into exile on 17 January 1866. He managed to return to the country on 31 July 1866. On 26 August 1866, he became political chief of the Sierra Norte, and afterwards commander in chief of the forces of the State of Puebla.^{[citation needed]}

Together with General Sóstenes Rocha, he took part in the siege of Querétaro in 1867. He was again named governor and military commander of Puebla on 16 April 1867, positions he held until 15 January of the following year.^{[citation needed]}

He took part in the revolutions of La Noria (Díaz's unsuccessful 1871 revolt against Benito Juárez) and Tuxtepec (Díaz's successful 1876 revolt against Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada).^{[citation needed]}

As interim president

 

With the success of the Plan de Tuxtepec, Díaz temporarily turned over the government to Méndez on 6 December 1876 in order to take the field to fight the partisans of José María Iglesias. Iglesias claimed to be the legal president of Mexico. As interim president, Méndez called elections, which Díaz won. Méndez's term ended on 17 February 1877 with the return of Díaz to the presidency.^{[citation needed]}

After the presidency

Méndez entered the Senate in 1877, where he worked to end the military draft. He was a senator until 1880. He was governor of Puebla for a third time, from 1 October 1880 to 31 January 1885. On 3 February 1885, he became president of the Supreme Military Court,^[2] where he served until his death in Mexico City in 1894. He left no property or money.

Personal life

His wife was Trinidad González y Castruera.

See also

• List of heads of state of Mexico

References

1. Vázquez Gómez, Juana (October 1997). Dictionary of Mexican rulers, 1325–1997. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-313-30049-3. Retrieved April 18, 2010.
2. Vázquez Gómez, Juana (October 1997). Dictionary of Mexican rulers, 1325–1997. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-313-30049-3. Retrieved April 18, 2010.

Further reading

• 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.

Political offices
Preceded by Porfirio Díaz	President of Mexico 6 December 1876 – 17 February 1877	Succeeded by Porfirio Díaz