MOHAZAN', FRANCISCO, 1799-1842; b. in Honduras, his father being of Corsican descent. At an early age he began to be active in the troubled politics of Central Amer ica, and when but 25 years old was made secretary-general of Honduras; and soon after, having shown himself both a good soldier and a keen statesman, he was elected governor of the state. At that time the liberal party was in power. but constamt insurrections were incited by the reactionary factions. These factions Morazan met with firm military measures, and in 1829 drove them out from the city of Guatemala, a service rewarded by the congress with the title of "saviour of the republic." From this time until 1832 he was commander-in-chief of tha forces and intrusted with extraordinary powers. He used his authority in ridding the country of the curse of monasticism, abolished convents and tithes, and had the boldness to expel the archbishop of the diocese and other church dignitaries. In 1832 lie repelled an invasion from Mexico headed by Arce, a former
president, anti consented to accept the presidency, which up to that time he had refused. But he had underrated the power of the church; the prevalence of the cholera gave the priests a pretense to inflame the minds of their most ignorant devotees, mostly Indians, with preposterous tales of poisoning and the "vengeance of heaven." A general rising took place, Morazan was overpowered, and, iu 1840, compelled to flee to Chili. In 1842 he went to Costa Rica and was made governor without opposition. Still adhering to the idea of federation of the states of Central America he soon lost his popularity; again a sudden insurrection was incited and Morazan fell a victim, being court-martialed and shot on Sept. 15, the anniversary of the federation in 1823 of the five independent states.