ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA

EARLY LIFE

• 1794: born in Jalapa, Veracruz

• Joined the Spanish army like his father

• Was a royalist supporter until 1821 and switched to supporting independence

CAREER

• Became known as a caudillo and attractive as a leader (1)

• He was popular because of his military background and had a lot of support in Veracruz, his home state

• 1836: Failed in Battle of San Jacinto where Mexico lost Texas

• 1838: Santa Anna loses his leg fighting in a battle to protect Mexican territory against the French (2)

CAREER

• 1844, 1845: Santa Anna exiled, ended up in Havana, Cuba. This is where he hears that Mexico is going to war with the U.S. and plans how to make a comeback

• 1846: Was exiled living in Cuba when the Mexican-American War erupted. He sought the opportunity to “save” Mexico by going back and becoming leader. He formed a coup against the Mexican government and made himself president (3)

• 1848: Failed the war and was sent into exile again

• 1853-1855: Made last comeback and became president for the 11th time. This time he was invited back by rebellious conservatives that wanted to overthrow the government, but was soon kicked out again

PRESIDENT 11 TIMES…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heads_of_state_of_Mexico

LAST DAYS AND DEATH

• When he was very old he lost his fortune. He was allowed to come back to Mexico, but he was not popular.

• His wife (second) remained very loyal to him and she would look for and pay people to interview him. He never knew about this.

• 1876: Died

INTERESTING FACTS

• He lived in Staten Island, New York in 1869 in exile…

• He sold chicle to Thomas Adams who later went on to create “Chiclets” chewing gum

• He loved cockfighting and spent tens of thousands on roosters

• He collected Napoleonic artifacts…

• He was married for nearly 20 years to his first wife and one month after her death, at the age of 50, he remarried his second wife, 15 year-old Maria Dolores de Tosta.

• He probably had 11 children: 4 legitimate with his first wife, 4 others specified in his will, and three others discovered over the years…

SANTA ANNA: FRIEND OR FOE TO MEXICO?*