José María Patoni

José María Patoni (1828–1868) was a Mexican liberal military commander and governor of the State of Durango during the Reform War and the Second French intervention in Mexico.

During the French Intervention, a dispute arose over succession to the presidency, and he supported the claims of Jesús González Ortega as opposed to those of acting president Benito Juárez leading to Patoni's arrest. Upon his release in 1868, he was kidnapped and murdered by General Benigno Canto, leading to rumors and an allegation from Canto himself that he was acting upon orders from Minister of War Ignacio Mejía, an accusation which the government vehemently denied. Benigno would be tried and sentenced to ten years imprisonment.

Early life He was the second son of Mercedes Sánchez and Juán Bautista Patoni, a native of Tyrol, Austria (then part of the Austrian Archduchy). He was born in 1828 in Santiago Papasquiaro, State of Durango. He lived there until 1858 engaged in mining, playing a key role in developing the mining industry, and due to his liberalism he was appointed commander of the state militia, by the government of Durango, then headed by José Patricio de la Bárcena.

Reform War After the Reform War began, Patoni corresponded with the various liberal leaders, and in 1858 he joined Ramon Coronado with 100 men, armed and equipped at his expense. He attended the siege and capture of Durango with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and due to having been severely wounded, while also leading the action in a brilliant manner, he was promoted by Santos Degollado. The liberals secured the state of Durango, and Patoni, after he got well after six months of illness, returned to Guanaceví to his private business. The claim was once again brought up when Juarez' term did expire in 1865, but as González Ortega had not been in the country for a long time, his claim was declared forfeited. In the dispute, for practical reasons, most liberals supported Juárez, though González Ortega's candidacy gained support from General Patoni and Guillermo Prieto.

Murder Ortega returned to Mexico and arrived in Zacatecas on January 8, 1867, accompanied by General Patoni. He announced himself to Governor Anza and Secretary of State Marquez was sent to Gonzales Ortega to inquire on the purpose of his visit. Gonzales Ortega still upheld his claim to the presidency and asked for a conference with the governor. The conference was granted at which Anza arrested Ortega and Patoni and sent them to Juárez who had them remain in custody until he felt they were no longer a threat.

After his release, General Patoni arrived in Durango on the night of August 17, 1868, accompanied by his wife and fourteen year old nephew and checked in at a hotel. At three in the morning Patoni was awoken by two officials who ordered Patoni to follow them in the name of General Canto, chief of the local brigade belonging to the fourth division of the federal army. They took him to the south of the city where he was shot, and was left lying on the ground. In the morning the police picked up his corpse, and it was buried in the local cemetery on the same day. There was national outrage, and rumors of a government conspiracy, but the government denied any role in the incident, and the perpetrator General Benigno Canto was brought to trial and sentenced on February 2, 1873, to ten years imprisonment.