Mariano Arista

General Mariano Arista also served as President of Mexico.

Libro de Historia de México (Public Domain)

Quick Facts

Place of Birth:

San Luis Potosí

Date of Birth:

July 26, 1802

Place of Death:

Lisbon, Portugal

Date of Death:

August 7, 1885

Place of Burial:

Mexico City

Cemetery Name:

Panteon Civil de Dolores

General Mariano Arista

(José Mariano Martín Buenaventura Ignacio Nepomuceno García de Arista Nuez)

Mariano Arista was an experienced Mexican officer by the time he commanded troops at the Battle of Palo Alto on May 8, 1846. Arista began his military career as an officer in the Spanish Army. The Mexican general even spent some time in the U.S. in the early 1830's, exiled after a failed pronunciamento against the government. Arista returned to Mexico in 1836 and eventually rose to the rank of General of the Army of the North. It was as commander of the Mexican Army of the North that he engaged in the opening battles of the U.S.-Mexican War.

U.S.-Mexican War

General Arista arrived at the northern Mexican city of Matamoros at the end of April 1846. He found the U.S. Army, commanded by General Zachary Taylor, constructing an earthen work fortification on the banks of the Rio Grande, directly across from Matamoros. Arista's aim was to cut General Taylor off from his supply base at Point Isabel. General Taylor led the bulk of his troops out to Point Isabel before this could happen, leaving a small force behind to guard the fort.

Having isolated the earthwork and its small garrison, General Arista hoped to block General Taylor and his large supply train from reaching Taylor's riverside base. Unfortunately for Arista, things did not go as planned. Arista’s army fought Taylor’s troops to a virtual stalemate at the Battle of Palo Alto. However, Arista's forces broke ranks and were soundly defeated the following day at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma.

After Palo Alto

Following his battles with Taylor, General Arista sought a trial by court martial to present his case for his performance at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. He was absolved of any guilt at the trial’s conclusion. However, the general was pulled from the field of battle and spent the remainder serving as Secretary of War. Arista's military and political career continued to grow. The veteran soldier found himself holding the office the presidency from 1851 to 1853.

Like his counterpart at Palo Alto, Zachary Taylor, President Arista served a short term as well. Due to political upheaval in Mexico, Arista resigned from office and went into exile once again. Mariano Arista died in Lisbon, Portugal on August 7, 1855. His remains were sent to back to Mexico 1880.