SANTA ANNA, ANTONIO LOPEZ DE Mexican revolutionist, dictator, president and soldier, was born in Jalapa, Vera Cruz, on Feb. 21, 1795. Entering the Spanish colonial army as cadet in 181o, he served against the revolution ists in Tamaulipas, Tex., and Vera Cruz until March 29, 1821, when he declared in favour of the Plan de Iguala. This revolu tion resulted in Mexican independence and the empire of Iturbide. Santa Anna advanced rapidly under the empire until Itfirbide attempted to remove him from Vera Cruz. He pronounced op portunely for a republic and the subsequent revolution led to the downfall of Iturbide. Santa Anna was sent to San Luis Potosi, where he failed in another attempt at revolution, was recalled, and next sent to Yucatan, where he spent about a year as governor and military commander, returning to Mexico in 1825 and in 1827 to civil and military command in Vera Cruz. He subverted the election of 1828 by a revolution in favour of Guerrero, who be came president. He defeated an ill-advised attempt of the Span iards to recapture Mexico in 1829 and, resigning his commands, retired to his hacienda, Manga de Clavo, where, except for a futile effort to sustain Guerrero, he was quiescent until 1832, when he headed a revolution which made Pedraza president. In 1833, Santa Anna became president, an office that alternating with various substitutes, he occupied until his defeat and capture by the Tex ans at San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. He returned to Mexico in 1837, retiring to his hacienda until called to command forces against the French. He lost a leg in action against them at Vera Cruz. Santa Anna was president ad interim f or a few weeks in
1839 and in 1841 again seized the office by revolution. He was captured by the counter-revolutionists in 1845 and was exiled. He retired to Havana but returned to Mexico the following year upon the outbreak of war with the United States. He was offered the presidency but, preferring to lead in the field, commanded the Mexicans in the battles of Angostura and Cerro Gordo and minor engagements. Early in 1847 he also assumed the presidency but, after his final defeats in the siege of Mexico City, retired to exile in Jamaica, from which, in 185o, he removed to New Granada. Recalled by the conservatives, he resumed the presidency for the fifth and last time on April 29, 1853. He became supreme Dic tator but was again exiled August 11, 1855. He twice attempted to return to Mexico, but was turned back by the French in 1864 and by American naval forces in 1867. As a result of amnesty, he returned to Mexico in 1874 and, poor, broken and blind, died June 2o, 1876. Santa Anna was unscrupulous, immoral and of no fixed principles, but he was energetic and of a magnetic person ality. He fancied himself a western Napoleon and was the chief contributor to the disturbed condition of Mexico for 3o years. He fostered a tradition of success not entirely justified by facts and in time of national crisis his turbulent countrymen again and again turned to him as the one possible leader.
See: Cambas, Gobernantes de Mejico; Wharton, El Presidente.