Valentín Canalizo

José Valentín Raimundo Canalizo Bocadillo (14 January 1794 – 20 February 1850), was a Mexican general and statesman who served twice as interim president during the Centralist Republic of Mexico and was later made Minister of War during the Mexican–American War.

After Santa Anna reorganized the constitution as the Bases Orgánicas in 1843, he appointed Canalizo as interim president. Canalizo in practice was a puppet ruler for Santa Anna, but Santa Anna was then popularly elected in 1844 and assumed power personally in June of that year. He took leave two months later after his wife's death, and Canalizo once again was chosen as interim president. After Mariano Paredes raised a revolt against the government, Santa Anna took command of the military to crush the uprising. Congress criticized this as illegal since Santa Anna was not president at the time, but the Canalizo government supported Santa Anna and dissolved the congress which only provoked popular opposition and led to Canalizo's downfall.

After stepping down from the presidency, he left the nation but came back to serve in the Mexican–American War, during which he was appointed Minister of War under the liberal president Valentín Gómez Farías. He died in 1850.

Early life Valentin Canalizo was born in Monterrey, and entered the Celaya Regiment as a cadet in August, 1811 the year after the Mexican War of Independence had begun. He ascended to the rank of sublieutenant and a year later reached the rank of lieutenant. He initially fought as a Spanish loyalist but switched sides to join Agustín de Iturbide in December 1820. He was present at the Siege of Valladolid, in the taking of San Juan del Rio y Zimapan and formed part of the forces which General Brancho surrendered to San Luis de la Paz. He was wounded in Azcapotzalco, and for his services at that battle was promoted to lieutenant colonel and granted an award of distinction. He held a command during the siege and taking of the capital.

He joined in the uprising that led to the downfall of the First Mexican Empire, and in 1825 he was promoted to sergeant major. He served in Jalisco as an assistant to fellow future President of Mexico, General José Joaquín de Herrera, and on December 8, 1829, he joined the Plan of Jalapa which would lead to fall of the Guerrero administration. He was placed in charge of artillery in order to protect the entrance of the reserve army commanded by General Melchor Múzquiz under whose orders Canalizo was placed. For his services in the successful revolution, the newly established Bustamante government made Canalizo a colonel.

In 1833, he joined in the uprising against the government of Valentín Gómez Farías which led to the fall of the First Republic and the establishment of the Centralist Republic of Mexico. He was then made governor of the State of Mexico. After an uprising by Juan Alvarez in the south in favor of re-establishing the federal system, Canalizo was placed second in command of the troops sent to Acapulco to suppress the revolt and relieve the siege of that city. He continued to lead campaigns against sporadic uprisings. In 1838 his effort to capture Tampico from the federalist general Longinos Montenegro was repulsed. He retired to Monterey, and then to Monclova after which he defeated the General Canales, and he was called back to Mexico City.

President Canalizo established the Sisters of Charity, assigned funds to the College of San Gregorio, published regulations on public education, and arranged a contract for new navy and army uniforms.

A controversial element during the Canalizo administration was the amount of taxes imposed in spite of the country's poverty. There were seven classes: land, industrial buildings, salaries, lucrative professions, luxuries, and the head tax.

Second presidency Santa Anna's wife had died and on August 31, 1844, and he subsequently sought permission from the chamber of deputies to take leave momentarily. The Senate, who had the authority to choose the interim president once again chose Canalizo and he would find himself in the presidential chair once again on September 21, 1844. A month later on October 31, Mariano Paredes launched a revolt against the government in Guadalajara.

Santa Anna returned to the capital to lead an army against the uprising and entered Mexico City on November 18. As he was not legally president at the time the congress condemned Santa Anna's assumption of military command as illegal, but he maintained support of the executive.

Santa Anna reached Querétaro who was supporting Paredes, and ordered the department assembly to retract its support. When this was refused, Santa Anna imprisoned the members of the assembly and replaced the governor with one of his generals. Upon reaching the news in the national capital, Deputy Llaca of Querétaro protested on behalf of his constituents and a formal protest was lodged against the ministers. Minister Baranda decided to meet with Santa Anna over the matter upon which it was decided to shut congress down.

On December 1, during a brief recess the military shut the doors of the legislative chambers. The ministry condemned congress and defended its measures as necessary to meet the national emergency. This led to public protest and the Ayuntamiento of Mexico City, and the Assembly of the Department of Mexico sided with congress. A statue of Santa Anna was vandalized with a noose around its neck.

By this time troops at the capital were expressing support for Paredes’ revolt and called upon Jose Joaquin Herrera to assume the presidency. Herrera summoned the deposed deputies and on December 6, issued an appeal to Canalizo to support congress and prevent bloodshed. As he saw that his support had evaporated Canalizo stepped down and handed the presidency over to Jose Joaquin Herrera.

Post presidency Canalizo was tried by the government and accused of trying to overthrow the constitution. In his defense, Canalizo claimed that he had no intention of abolishing the congress but merely suspending it due to the extraordinary circumstances. A general amnesty was passed by congress, but Canalizo preferred to leave the country. On October 25, 1845, he set out for Spain, but returned during the Mexican-American War in 1846.

He was made Minister of War under the administration of Valentin Gomez Farias. and supported the government's controversial measures of nationalizing the Catholic Church's lands, in order to fund the war. He stepped down on February 23 and was assigned a military command to defend Veracruz with General Rómulo Díaz de la Vega as his second in command.

He was present at the Battle of Cerro Gordo, in charge of cavalry. His conduct during that battle, retreating without fighting, and abandoning a large amount of supplies, led to a congressional proposal to start an investigation. He no longer played any notable role in the war, and never again assumed any political office. He died in obscurity on February 20, 1850.