José María Tornel

José María de Tornel y Mendivil (1795–1853) was a 19th century Mexican army general and politician who greatly influenced the career of President Antonio López de Santa Anna.

Tornel was prominent among the "santanistas," a group of politicians and officials who helped Santa Anna return to power frequently, despite defeats in the 1836 Texas Revolution and the 1846–48 Mexican-American War. Tornel advocated a federalist agenda in the 1820s, yet changed his political views to support Santa Anna's reactionary dictatorship in the 1850s. He helped orchestrate the Plan of Cuernavaca revolt in 1834. Tornel served as Minister of War, and helped plan the campaign that led to the Battle of the Alamo. Santa Anna's adopted U.S.-born son, John Hill, grew up in Tornel's household.