- Pedro Celestino Negrete
Pedro Celestino Negrete (1777–1846) was a Spanish general in
New Spain and later provisionalpresident of Mexico , fromMarch 31 ,1823 toOctober 10 ,1824 .He was born in
Spain . He belonged to the royalist army and, during the War of Independence, he fought theinsurgent s. In 1821 he was a supporter of thePlan de Iguala .After
Agustín de Iturbide had crowned himself Emperor of Mexico, however, he decided to lend his support to thePlan de Casa Mata and, using his friendship with Iturbide, exerted pressure for him toabdicate . Once Iturbide was dethroned, the executive authority was without representation, and so Congress created aprovisional government composed of General Pedro Celestino Negrete, GeneralNicolás Bravo and GeneralGuadalupe Victoria ; however, since the latter two were absent,José Mariano Michelena ,Miguel Domínguez and GeneralVicente Guerrero were designated in their place. OnOctober 4 ,1824 the Constitution of the United Mexican States was promulgated, adopting the system of republican, representative, popular, federal government.The country was divided into nineteen free and sovereign states, four territories that depended on the center, and the
Federal District . Also, the government was divided into legislative, executive and judicial branches. This Constitution was largely inspired by thechecks and balances of theUnited States Constitution , of theFrench Constitution and the one ofCádiz . It was in force fromOctober 4 ,1824 toApril 30 ,1836 , when it was replaced by Santa Anna'scentralist rewrite.General Negrete remained in control of the executive authority until
October 10 ,1824 , when GeneralGuadalupe Victoria assumed the position. Although the fortress ofSan Juan de Ulúa — the last redoubt of Spanish power inMexico , in the port of Veracruz — had been abandoned in 1825, some "Peninsulares " still entertained notions about restoring the monarchy, taking advantage of the general displeasure felt against the independent government. Thus, thefriar sJoaquín Arenas andFrancisco Martínez , along with some Mexican and Spanish military officers, including Negrete and Echávarri, rebelled against the government ofGuadalupe Victoria . OnJanuary 9 ,1827 this conspiracy was discovered. The leaders were judged, the friars were sentenced to death, and Negrete and Echávarri were exiled. Pedro Celestino Negrete left forFrance . He died inBordeaux in 1846.
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