Mexican soldier, born near Matamoras, Mexico; became a guerrilla leader in 1853, and was prominent in the reactionary party. In 1861–65 he assisted Juárez against the French and imperialists and in 1876, joined with Díaz to overthrow Lerdo de Tejada. In 1878 he became Secretary of War under Díaz, whom, in November 1880, he succeeded as President, resigning in 1884. He was afterward governor of the state of Guanajuato. He died in Mexico on the 8th of May 1893.
