JOSÉ MARÍA LUIS MORA LAMADRID: BIOGRAPHY - HISTORY - 2025

José María Luis Mora Lamadrid was a political scientist, theologian, lawyer, historian and ideologist priest. He was born in Chamacuero, Guanajuato, Mexico, in 1794. He is considered one of the first representatives of liberalism in Mexico. In addition, he oriented his work towards the separation of the State-Church institutions.

He published two books entitled Mexico and its revolutions and two volumes of loose works. He was in prison for opposing Iturbide's cover-up as emperor. He was a deputy of the Constituent Legislature of the State of Mexico. He was also elected a member of the National Congress for the state of Guanajuato.

He was part of the Scottish side of Freemasonry, intellectually fighting against the Yorkers. Through the perspective of lay teaching, he taught philosophy classes. He wrote articles for La libertad, El sol and el Observador de la República Mexicana. He also wrote columns in the Political and Literary Weekly, and in The Indicator.

He was exiled in Paris, where he dedicated himself to writing his literary works. He was then appointed plenipotentiary minister in London. He lived for a brief period in the British city due to an illness that forced him to return to Paris. He died in that city in 1850, after a serious illness.

Biography

José María Servín de la Mora Díaz was born on October 12, 1794 in Chamacuero, Guanajuato, Mexico. As a young man he moved to Querétaro to study the first letters.

Later he was ordained a priest at the San Ildefonso College in Mexico City. Some years later he received the degree of Doctor of Theology.

In 1821 he wrote the Political and Literary Weekly, with a liberal tendency. A year later he was appointed a member of the provincial deputation of Mexico.

Political career

In 1824 he opposed the cover-up of Iturbide as emperor, which earned him the prison sentence. However, when the empire fell, he took office as a deputy to the Constituent Legislature of the State of Mexico. It is recognized as a period of great political work as a deputy.

By 1827 he was considered an important character in the political environment. It is in that year when he joined Freemasonry from the moderate Scottish lodge. From that lodge the great spheres of Mexican politics were controlled.

As a Mason, he worked in the ideological battle with the opposite side, the more radical Yorkinos. He poured out his ideals in his newspaper The Indicator and in the books he wrote at that time: The Political Catechism of the Mexican Federation and Dissertation on the nature and application of ecclesiastical income and property.

Some years before, José María Luis Mora Lamadrid had left the practice as a priest.

Exile

In 1834 his party, headed by Gómez Farías, fell. José María Luis Mora Lamadrid must go into exile and settles in Paris, France. During his first period in exile he lived in precarity and misery, where he probably contracted the disease that led to his death.

Literary works

Despite the poor context of survival in exile, he was able to dedicate himself to his literary works. In the span of two years he was able to publish two great books: Mexico and its revolutions, in 1936; and Single Works, in 1938. The second book was divided into two volumes.

Although in this period he published two books, research and development had begun in 1828. He dedicated that time to compiling statistics on the general Mexican state and that of each of the states and territories, as well as extensive research on the history of Mexico since the Spanish colonization.

The first of the volumes of loose works presents the geographic structure and natural resources of Mexico, including the structure of public administration and socio-political organization.

The third volume deals with the history of the country, including the colonial period and the revolutions for independence. The fourth studies history since the achievement of independence.

The second volume was never published. According to Mora, these two volumes of Sueltas "are the history of my thoughts, my desires, my principles of conduct."

In 1847 Mora is assigned as plenipotentiary minister of Mexico before the court of London. But his transfer lasted a short time, due to the serious consumption disorder he suffered. Soon he returns to Paris.

Sickness and death

The return to Paris is decided based on climatic issues, in order to better cope with his illness. However, on July 14, 1850, he died in Paris. His remains were transferred to the Rotunda of Illustrious Persons in Mexico City, in 1963.

His former home in Chamucuero later became a museum where some of his original works are exhibited.

José María Luis Mora Lamadrid's work stands out for its firmness in convictions and ideals. He is considered one of the most important and radical thinkers of Mexican liberalism during the first half of the 19th century. José María Luis Mora is a classic reference for the study of Mexican history.

Phrases and fragments of his work

- "War causes ruin, and general ruin is caused by permanent war, an endless struggle that has been taking place due to internal discord, for a fratricidal war."

- "Every Mexican must ask himself daily if the town exists for the clergy or if the clergy has been created to meet the needs of the people."

- "The Mexican Republic spends fourteen million pesos in supporting soldiers who tyrannize it without defending it."

- "Despair is often the origin of great feats."

- "The gold that is acquired without work does nothing but polish the misery of those who possess it."

- "The culture of the spirit softens the character, reforms the customs."

- «… the land, fundamental wealth of the country, must pass into the hands of the State, which in turn will sell it to small owners who are the basis of a broad and solid producing class.

- "The greatest political good occurs when an educated people and a wise government recognize the development needs of their society and implement them together, harmoniously."

References

1. Rotunda of Illustrious Persons. "José María Luis Mora Lamadrid". (July 20, 2011). Obtained from Segob.
2. Aldama, GV (nd). The educational thought of José María Luis Mora. Mexico: National Pedagogical University.
3. Mora, JM (1824). LAICISM IN THE HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN MEXICO. Mexico.
4. Mora, JM (1836). Mexico and its revolutions. Paris: Rosa's Bookstore.
5. Rivas, HG (1986). 150 Biographies of Illustrious Mexicans. Mexico: Editorial Universo.