Santa Anna, Antonio

Santa Anna, Antonio (López de)

Antonio López de Santa Anna, daguerreotype by F.W. Seiders.

(credit: Courtesy of the San Jacinto Museum of History Association, San Jacinto Monument, Texas)

(born Feb. 21, 1794, Jalapa, Mex.—died June 21, 1876, Mexico City) Soldier and several times president of Mexico (1833–36, 1844–45, 1847, 1853–55). He fought on both sides of nearly every issue of the day. He is famous for his glorious victories, including his thwarting of Spain's attempt to reconquer Mexico (1829), and for his ignominious failures, including his defeat and capture by Sam Houston at San Jacinto in the Texas revolt (1836). When the Mexican War broke out, he contacted Pres. James K. Polk to broker a peace, but on arriving in Mexico he led Mexican forces against the U.S. (1846–47) and was driven into exile. When Maximilian was made emperor of Mexico, Santa Anna offered his services both to Maximilian and to his opponents; neither side accepted. He lived abroad 1855–74, finally returning to Mexico to die in poverty. See also Alamo; caudillo; La Reforma.