Ignacio Comonfort
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| Ignacio Comonfort | |
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| In office September 15, 1855 – January 21, 1858 |
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| Vice President | Benito Juárez |
| Preceded by | Juan Álvarez |
| Succeeded by | Benito Juárez |
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| Born | March 12, 1812 Puebla, Puebla |
| Died | November 3, 1863 (aged 51) |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Political party | Liberal |
Ignacio Comonfort (1812 – 1863) was a Mexican politician and military officer.
He was born in 1812 in Puebla de los Ángeles, in the state of Puebla, to French parents. He participated in the Mexican-American War. He was President of Mexico from September 15, 1855 to January 21, 1858. During his term as president, Benito Juárez served as both president of the Supreme Court and vice-president of Mexico.
During Comonfort's administration, the country descended into the War of the Reform, a civil war launched by reactionaries against the Constitution of 1857 which, among other things, had abolished privileges for the Catholic church.
Shortly after the adoption of the Constitution of 1857, a junta of generals staged a coup d'etat, proclaiming the Plan de Tacubaya which decreed the nullification of the Constitution. President Comonfort, representing himself as a moderate, wavered but decided to go along with the generals. In exchange, the Catholic Church repealed the March 1857 excommunication decree for those who adhered to the new plan.
On December 17th, 1857, anti-constitutional forces led by General Felix Zuloaga took control of the capital without firing a shot. But defenders of the 1857 Constitution did not stay calm for long. President Comonfort then decreed himself extraordinary powers, an action which alienated both the reactionary rebels as well as the constitutionalists. As unrest grew, many opponents were imprisoned or shot. Even vice president Benito Juárez was put behind bars for several days.
On January 11, 1858, General Zuloaga demanded the ouster of the President. Comonfort resigned, and his vice president, Benito Juárez assumed the presidency. In opposition, the junta of generals and Catholic clergy selected General Zuloaga as their president.
After seeking asylum in the United States, Comonfort returned to act again as a general against the French invasion in 1862. He died next year on November 13, after been attacked by a group of bandits.
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| Preceded by Juan Álvarez |
President of Mexico 1856–1858 |
Succeeded by Benito Juárez |
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