José Antonio Mexía
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José Antonio Mexía (1800 – 3 May 1839) was a 19th-century Mexican politician. He claimed to have been born in Xalapa, Veracruz, but contradicting contemporary reports say he was a native of Cuba.
Mexía was a great supporter of federalism and decentralizing the state. As a senator for the state of México, he participated in an 1834 uprising against President Antonio López de Santa Anna; two months later, he was captured by centralist forces in Jalisco and sent into exile. He traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he encouraged filibusters from the United States to invade Mexico, recruiting Anglo settlers under the guise of brokering land for them. On November 6, 1835, the schooner Mary Jane set sail for Tampico, Tamaulipas in the Tampico Expedition. The Americans, realizing they had been tricked, did not support Mexía's plan of stirring another uprising against Santa Anna. Thirty-one men were taken prisoner but Mexía managed to escape to Texas. Santa Anna ordered the execution of the prisoners. Three died from illness.
In 1839, Mexía joined General José de Urrea's rebellion against Santa Anna and was defeated and captured at Acajete. Santa Ana order his execution, granting him three hours to write any final letters home. Mexia, upon hearing Santa Anna's order said, "If Santa Anna had fallen into my power, I would have conceded him only three minutes."
On May 3, 1839, Mexía was executed by firing squad.
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources
- Roberts, Randy & Olson, James S.; "A Line in the Sand"; Simon & Schuster; ISBN 0-684-83544-4
- José Antonio Mexía from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Tampico Expedition from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Jones, Oakah L, "Santa Anna." Twayne Publishers, New York, 1968
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