An exploration of women's involvement in the Latin American Wars of Independence

Manuel Lorenzo Justiano de Zavala y Sáenz

Gender:Male

Ethnic origen: White

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Biography:
Mexican liberal politician and writer, born Tecoh, Yucatán on 3 October 1788. By 1813 he had set up two liberal newspapers in Yucatán, El Aristarco Universal and El Redactor Meridiano in which he defended reading Voltaire and Rousseau. He was imprisoned in San Juan de Ulloa from 1814-1817, during which he studied English and medicine. He was in favour of the restoration of the 1812 Spanish Constitution and elected representative of Yucatán to the 1821 Mexican Congress. He held this position until 1829. He strongly supported the 1824 Mexican Constitution. He was a mason and helped to found the federalist York Rite. He obtained land in Texas, promoted colonisation of the state and settled there himself. In 1832 he became governor of the state of Mexico. He was re-elected representative of Yucatán and worked to reform in line with the 1824 Constitution. This led to clashes with Santa Anna and Zavala was appointed Ambassador to France. He resigned in 1834 and returned to Texas. He reluctantly supported Texan independence and was elected interim Vice-President of the Republic of Texas in March 1836, but resigned following differences with President David Burnett. He wrote Ensayo Histórico de las revoluciones de Megico desde 1808 hasta 1830 (Paris, 1831) and Journey to the United States (Paris, 1834). He died on 15 November 1836. (Morgan, 1638-1639)

References:

Werner, Michael S. (editor). (1997) Encyclopedia of Mexico