Mariano Arista
Mariano Arista General De Division Del Ejercito Mexicano | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Édouard Pingret, 1851 | |
| 19th President of Mexico | |
| In office 15 January 1851 – 6 January 1853 | |
| Preceded by | José Joaquín de Herrera |
| Succeeded by | Juan Bautista Ceballos |
| Minister of War and Marine | |
| In office 12 June 1848 – 14 January 1851 | |
| President | José Joaquín de Herrera |
| Preceded by | Manuel María de Sandoval |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Robles Pezuela |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 July 1802 |
| Died | 7 August 1855 (aged 53) |
| Resting place | Panteón de Dolores |
| Party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Guadalupe Martell |
| Signature | |
José Mariano Martín Buenaventura Ignacio Nepomuceno García de Arista Nuez (26 July 1802 – 7 August 1855) was a Mexican soldier and politician who served as the 19th president of Mexico from 1851 to 1853.
He was in command of the Mexican forces at the opening battles of the Mexican–American War: the Battle of Palo Alto and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, which were disastrous losses for Mexico and resulted in Arista being court martialled though eventually acquitted. He continued to play a notable role in government and was Minister of War under President José Joaquín de Herrera.
Arista himself would succeed Herrera as president and his inauguration would mark the first peaceful transfer of power in Mexico since 1824. The Herrera and Arista administrations occurring immediately after the end of the Mexican American War were eras of stability, moderate rule, and economic growth. Writing in 1920, Mexican historian Francisco Bulnes rated Arista as the greatest of Mexico's presidents. Arista, however would be overthrown after sweeping budget cuts led to widespread discontent. The insurgents who overthrew him brought Santa Anna back into power for what turned out to be his last dictatorship. Arista was exiled by Santa Anna, and died in Lisbon in 1855.