Francisco Javier Echeverría
Encyclopedia
Francisco Javier Echeverría (circa July 2, 1797 – September 17, 1852) was a Mexican businessman, conservative and centralist politician. He served as president of Mexico
in late 1841 for a few weeks.
, Veracruz
. In his youth he worked in his family's commercial firm, but soon entered politics. He was elected a deputy in the local congress in 1829. In 1834 he moved to Mexico City, where he headed the family firm of Viuda de Echeverría y Hijos.
named him secretary of the treasury. He served in this position from May 5, 1834 to September 1 of the same year, when he resigned over disagreements with the government of Santa Anna.
Two years later he was a member of the Council of State under Anastasio Bustamante
, in the latter's second term as president. Echeverría was again secretary of the treasury, still under Bustamante (July 27, 1839 to March 23, 1841). This was after the Pastry War
with France, and the treasury was bankrupt. His commercial firm lent 662,000 pesos to the government in copper, receiving payment in silver. He was much attacked for this in the press. He imposed a tax of 3 per 1,000 on rural and urban property and raised the consumption tax
10%. He wanted to amortize the copper coinage through an agreement with the tobacco firms. By these and other measures he greatly improved the situation of the treasury.
Later he was president of the committee on prisons and also of the Academy of San Carlos
. The Academy prospered under his leadership, acquiring its own building, attracting European teachers, and gaining a reputation as the best fine arts academy in America. He was founder and first director of a reformatory for young men.
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
in late 1841 for a few weeks.
Early years
Francisco Javier Echeverría was born in XalapaXalapa
Xalapa-Enríquez, commonly Xalapa or Jalapa, is the capital city of the Mexican state of Veracruz and the name of the surrounding municipality. In the year 2005 census the city reported a population of 387,879 and the municipality of which it serves as municipal seat reported a population of...
, Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
. In his youth he worked in his family's commercial firm, but soon entered politics. He was elected a deputy in the local congress in 1829. In 1834 he moved to Mexico City, where he headed the family firm of Viuda de Echeverría y Hijos.
National politics
President Antonio López de Santa AnnaAntonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
named him secretary of the treasury. He served in this position from May 5, 1834 to September 1 of the same year, when he resigned over disagreements with the government of Santa Anna.
Two years later he was a member of the Council of State under Anastasio Bustamante
Anastasio Bustamante
Anastasio Bustamante y Oseguera was president of Mexico three times, from 1830 to 1832, from 1837 to 1839 and from 1839 to 1841. He was a Conservative. He first came to power by leading a coup against president Vicente Guerrero...
, in the latter's second term as president. Echeverría was again secretary of the treasury, still under Bustamante (July 27, 1839 to March 23, 1841). This was after the Pastry War
Pastry War
The Pastry War was an invasion of Mexico by French forces in 1838.-Background:The war arose from the widespread civil disorder that plagued the early years of the Mexican republic. In 1828, President Manuel Gómez Pedraza ejected Lorenzo de Zavala from the office of governor of the state of México...
with France, and the treasury was bankrupt. His commercial firm lent 662,000 pesos to the government in copper, receiving payment in silver. He was much attacked for this in the press. He imposed a tax of 3 per 1,000 on rural and urban property and raised the consumption tax
Consumption tax
A consumption tax is a tax on spending on goods and services. The tax base of such a tax is the money spent on consumption. Consumption taxes are usually indirect, such as a sales tax or a value added tax...
10%. He wanted to amortize the copper coinage through an agreement with the tobacco firms. By these and other measures he greatly improved the situation of the treasury.
President of Mexico
On September 21, 1841 Congress named him interim president of Mexico, while Bustamante was in the field leading troops against his enemies. Echeverría held the office of president until October 10. He left office when the Liberals returned to power. He retired from politics for a time, but made his return in 1850, as a congressional deputy.Later he was president of the committee on prisons and also of the Academy of San Carlos
Academy of San Carlos
The Academy of San Carlos is located at 22 Academia Street in just northeast of the main plaza of Mexico City. It was the first major art academy and the first art museum in the Americas. It was founded in 1781 as the School of Engraving and moved to the Academia Street location about 10 years later...
. The Academy prospered under his leadership, acquiring its own building, attracting European teachers, and gaining a reputation as the best fine arts academy in America. He was founder and first director of a reformatory for young men.