JUAN NEPOMUCENO ALMONTE: BIOGRAPHY - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Juan Nepomuceno Almonte (1803-1869) was a Mexican politician, military and diplomat who participated in some of the most important historical events during the first half of the 19th century. He was born in Nocupétaro in 1802 and was the natural son of José María Morelos.

Almonte returned once the Plan of Iguala was proclaimed, although he left the country again when Agustín Iturbide proclaimed himself Emperor of Mexico. Then he waited until the arrival of the Republic to settle permanently in the country.

Source: By Cruces y Campa, México, 2d de S. Francisco, no. 4, via Wikimedia Commons

He held various diplomatic posts, highlighting his negotiations with England and the United States. He also participated in Santa Anna's attack on the Texas rebels.

He was Secretary of War with Anastasio Bustamante and, later, of the Treasury. Almonte left the latter position by refusing to sign the Law of Dead Hands, then going to the Conservative Party. As representative before Spain and England, he was the signatory of the Almonte - Mon Treaty, being accused of traitor by Juárez.

Almonte actively participated in the search for a monarch for Mexico. The chosen one was Maximiliano, who came to occupy the throne of the Second Mexican Empire. Almonte accompanied him during the years that said empire lasted.

Biography

Juan Nepomuceno Almonte was born on May 15, 1802. Although some historians affirm that his birthplace was Parácuaro, the majority place him in Nocupétaro, in the current state of Michoacán. His biological father was José María Morelos, who, being a priest, could not give him his last name, although he did keep it by his side.

Juan Nepomuceno participated in several campaigns with his father while he was still a child. He was part of a company of child soldiers, called "Los Emulantes", which stood out in battles such as the one at the site of Cuautla.

The young man was wounded in the attack on Valladolid in 1813. Thanks to his merits, the Congress of Chilpancingo named him Brigadier General that same year.

In 1814, Juan Nepomuceno was sent to the United States, specifically to the city of New Orleans. There he learned of the execution of his father, on December 22, 1815.

I return to Mexico

In the USA, the young man received training, learned the language and worked as a clerk. His stay in the northern neighbor lasted until 1821, when he returned to Mexico when the Plan of Iguala was proclaimed. However, when Iturbide was crowned Emperor, Almonte decided to return to the United States.

This time, he was there less time. In 1824, already with the Republic, he returned to Mexico, where he recovered the rank of General Brigadier.

Diplomatic career

Almonte began his diplomatic career undertaking the negotiations that would culminate in the first international treaty in the country's history. He was part of the Trespalacios delegation that traveled to London together with Ambassador Michelena. There, they managed to sign a commercial and friendship agreement with the British.

War in texas

In 1834, Almonte was appointed Commissioner in the negotiations with the United States that were to mark the border limits between the two nations.

It was in Texas where he regained his military facet. He joined the expedition led by Antonio López de Santa Anna to fight against the Texan separatists. During this conflict he participated in the taking of the Alamo and in the action of San Jacinto, in which he was taken prisoner.

Until 1837 he could not return to Mexico, as happened with Santa Anna. At that time, Almonte had gained considerable popularity in political circles and was appointed Secretary of War and Navy by President Bustamante. Among his policies he highlighted the creation of the light infantry.

Later he was minister to the US government, between 1841 and 1845. His main task during that time was to try to prevent any military intervention by the United States, in addition to preventing Texas from joining the American Unity.

In 1846 he returned to the post of Secretary of War, during the conflict against the Americans. He formed the National Guard and organized aid to the Port of Veracruz in September of that year before the landing of US soldiers.

Step to the Conservative Party

At the end of 1846, Almonte was appointed Minister of Finance. He only lasted 11 days in office, since he resigned to avoid having to sign the Dead Hands Law, which expropriated the assets of the Church

Experts affirm that this, plus the Treaties of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed by the liberal government and the United States and that ceded part of the Mexican territory to its neighbors, caused it to change its political orientation.

In this way, he went from being a liberal to being a member of the Conservative Party. Despite this, President Comonfort appointed him representatives of Mexico to Great Britain, Austria, and Spain in 1856.

Apart from his political tasks, Almonte belonged to the Mexican Society of Geography and Catechism of universal geography for the use of public instruction establishments and the Guide for outsiders and repertoire of useful knowledge.

Mon-Almonte Treaty

When the War of the Reform broke out, Almonte remained on the conservative side. Félix de Zuloaga, president for this sector, made him his representative and, as such, signed the Mon - Almonte Treaty in Paris.

This Treaty, signed on September 26, 1859, recovered relations with Spain, broken by the murder of some Spaniards in Mexico. In exchange, the Mexican government promised to pay compensation to the victims, among other measures. It was actually a way to get Spanish support during the war.

The Liberals, faced with what they considered an intolerable submission to foreigners, declared Almonte a traitor to the homeland.

Maximilian

The triumph of the liberals in the civil war caused Almonte to leave the country for Europe. However, he did not abandon his political activities at all and joined with Gutiérrez Estrada and other conservatives with the idea of ​​establishing a monarchy in Mexico.

For this they were negotiating to find the best candidate and Almonte himself conspired to facilitate the French intervention in Mexico. In addition, he was one of those who proposed Maximilian of Habsburg as the future Mexican monarch.

Almonte returned to Mexico taking advantage of the French invasion. In fact, he was proclaimed interim president in 1862, although he did not get any support.

Together with the French he participated in some military actions, such as the battle of May 5. When the Europeans took the capital, he held one of the positions of the Junta de Regency. It was this Junta that proclaimed the Empire and called Maximilian to occupy the crown.

Lieutenant of the Emperor and death

Despite some initial doubts, Maximiliano accepted the offer and the Second Empire was established in Mexico. Almonte became one of the monarch's lieutenants and, later, Marshal of the Empire.

As such, he traveled to France in 1866 to try to convince Napoleon III not to withdraw troops from Mexico. The failure of that mission, plus the war in his country that ended with the overthrow of the Emperor, made Almonte decide to stay in Paris.

There he lived for three more years, dying on March 21, 1869.

References

1. Carmona Dávila, Doralicia. Juan Nepomuceno Almonte. Obtained from memoriapoliticademexico.org
2. Mexico 2010. Juan Nepomuceno Almonte. Obtained from filehistorico2010.sedena.gob.mx
3. Mcnbiographies. Almonte, Juan Nepomuceno (1803-1869). Obtained from mcnbiografias.com
4. McKeehan, Wallace L. Juan Nepomuceno Almonte 1803-1869. Retrieved from sonsofdewittcolony.org
5. McKenzie, David Patrick. Juan Nepomuceno Almonte. Retrieved from davidmckenzie.info
6. The University of Texas Arlington. Juan Nepomuceno Almonte. Retrieved from library.uta.edu