José Justo Corro

José Justo Corro y Silva (c. 19 July 1794 – c. 18 December 1864) was a Mexican lawyer and statesman who was made president of Mexico on 2 March 1836, after the sudden death of President Miguel Barragán. During his administration, he oversaw the transition from the First Mexican Republic to the Centralist Republic of Mexico and the publication of the new constitution: the Siete Leyes. The nation also faced the ongoing Texas Revolution, and Mexican independence was recognized by Spain and by the Holy See.

Early life and education José Justo Corro y Silva was born on 18 July 1794, in the city of Guadalajara, the capital of what is now the state of Jalisco. His parents were financially comfortable and descended from Mexican nobility. He went to law school in Guadalajara before moving to Mexico City and made a name for himself in the capital as a lawyer.

Career Early positions Corro served as a deputy in Jalisco's Constituent Congress, Different sources cite different start and end dates for his term, including: 22 September 1828 - 1 May 1829

Foreign relations The government at this time had to deal with many foreign crises, most apparent of all the Texas Revolution, and threats that the United States would recognize Texan independence. France had put forth claims of damages, which would eventually lead to the Pastry War in 1838. Due to rising tensions, Manuel Eduardo de Gorostiza, the Mexican minister to the United States was summoned back to Mexico. In response to the seizure of American merchant ships, the Mexican brigantine ‘General Urrea’ had been captured by American vessels, and the latter had been forced to lower the Mexican colors and fly the American flag.

The Corro administration was successful in getting the Holy See to recognize Mexican independence, under the condition that the anti-clerical laws, established in 1833 by president Valentín Gómez Farías, would be lifted. The pope then resolved to send an internuncio.

Domestic issues

In the course of his presidency Corro would have three ministers of finance – Mangino, Alas and Cervantes – who all struggled to raise funds, and who all appealed the government to take out foreign loans. The use of copper also caused trouble as it lent itself easily to counterfeiting, which Corro tried to discourage by devaluing the value of the copper coin.

Partisan conflict on the municipal level resulted in a petition to the president to suspend the elections for the Ayuntamientos until the publication of the Siete Leyes, the new constitution that was being worked on. After suppressing the revolt of Juan Alvarez in the south of the country, congress began focusing on this new, centralist constitution. The Siete Leyes were finally published on 30 December 1836. It revoked anticlerical laws previously passed by Gómez Farías, but maintained state control over the church.

Elections were held in accordance with the new constitution, and the ex-president Anastasio Bustamante who had recently returned from Europe, succeeded in winning another term.

Later life Corro stepped down on 19 April 1837, being succeeded by Bustamante. He then returned to Jalisco, and again served as interim governor of Jalisco from 1 November to 30 December 1837. In 1839 he served as a deputy in and then president of the state congress. Corro then served as an alternate deputy to the Constituent Congress of 1842.

Corro then retired to private life in Guadalajara. He died there on 18 December 1864. His body was interred in the Panteón de Belén. He was married to Juana Fernanda Ulloa. There is a street named after Corro in Guadalajara.