Protasio Tagle

Protasio Pérez de Tagle Frago (1839 – 31 July 1903) was a Mexican soldier, politician and lawyer. He served as secretary of the interior from 1876 to 1877 under Presidents Porfirio Díaz and Juan N. Méndez and as secretary of justice and public education from 1877 to 1879 under Díaz. He was previously governor of the Federal District for one week in 1876, and before that was a member of the Chamber of Deputies representing the State of Mexico for two terms.

Biography Early life Protasio Pérez de Tagle Frago was born in 1839 in Mexico City. His father, Mariano Pérez de Tagle was a wealthy hacienda owner. His mother was Antonia Frago de Tagle. In October of 1868, Tagle was a member of the Grand Jury of Congress that found General Benigno Canto responsible for the murder of General José María Patoni. On 1 December, he also signed an opinion that accused secretary of war of not respecting the budget of his department.

On 24 June 1877, Tagle became Secretary of Justice and Public Instruction, succeeding Ignacio Ramírez. Earlier attempts in the decade had been made to abolish the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria (ENP). Ramírez and then Tagle made minor modifications to the ENP's requirements in 1877, though they were broadly supportive of the school and its philosophy. Also in 1877, Tagle banned public and private admonition and expulsions for a day as punishments in schools.

Following Supreme Court President José María Iglesias not recognizing Lerdo's 1876 reelection, the Díaz government sought to depoliticize the Supreme Court and reform the country's . The first attempt was a law proposed by Tagle to the Chamber of Deputies on 3 October. This would begin a process of strengthening the executive and weakening the judiciary during the Porfiriato. The Chamber studied his proposal and on 19 November made a number of reforms. It is not clear if the Chamber adopted Tagle's proposal, and two more proposals would be made by others until one was approved five years after Tagle's attempt. He was still an unpopular figure, and when he spoke at Ramírez's funeral on 18 June 1879, the audience reacted negatively. Tagle left the post on 15 November 1879, being succeeded by Juan N. García. By the end of the Díaz administration, the departure of men such as Tagle and Benítez had left none of Díaz's six original cabinet secretaries in power, clearing the way for González's rise.

Later life Following his retirement from politics, Tagle taught Roman law at the . He was buried in the in Mexico City. Tagle was survived by a son, Cornelio Pérez de Tagle. the park Parque Protasio Tagle, and the primary school Escuela Primaria Lic. Protasio Tagle.