Tomás Antonio Ignacio O'Horán y Escudero was an Imperial Mexican general of Irish descent during the Second French intervention in Mexico. He was known for switching sides during the war as he initially sided with Benito Juárez but after the Siege of Mexico City, O'Horán was executed.

Early military career

He was the son of

Tomas O'Horan Tomás Antonio O'Horán y Argüello (1775–1848) was a Mexican lawyer, magistrate and senator, resident most of his life in Mérida, Yucatán in Mexico. Tomas was born somewhere in the Yucatán Peninsula, Yucatán region, the son of John O'Hor ...

who was a prominent politician from Yucatan and the brother to Agustín O'Horán, a doctor who would gain fame in Mexico. He began his military career as a cadet in 1836 as he was within Antonio López de Santa Anna's army to quell the Texas Revolution. He also participated in the

Pastry War The Pastry War ( es, Guerra de los pasteles; french: Guerre des Pâtisseries), also known as the First French Intervention in Mexico or the First Franco-Mexican War (1838–1839), began in November 1838 with the naval blockade of some Mexican po ...

and was stationed in Yucatán as a second lieutenant to oppose

Santiago Imán Santiago Imán was a Creole revolutionary involved in a series of events that led to, and help cause, the Caste War of Yucatán and was born in 1800. Through 1839 to 1840, starting on May 29, he led a revolt which helped push the Yucatán's separa ...

the following year. During the Mexican–American War, O'Horán participated in the Battle of Buena Vista. Similarly during the Reform War, he sided with the Benito Juárez and the liberal faction of the war.

Second French intervention

Due to his previous affiliation with Juárez, O'Horán again sided with Juárez against the

French Empire French Empire (french: Empire Français, link=no) may refer to: * First French Empire, ruled by Napoleon I from 1804 to 1814 and in 1815 and by Napoleon II in 1815, the French state from 1804 to 1814 and in 1815 * Second French Empire, led by Nap ...

and the Mexican imperialists. Initially given the nickname "the Immortal of Atlixco", he managed to repel Imperial Mexican forces along with General Antonio Carvajal which played a significant role in the Republican victory during the Battle of Puebla. During the battle, his liberal friend Antonio Taboada asked O'Horán if he would like to switch sides, claiming that if he did so, that Mexico would be brought to stability but he declined at the moment. Later on at the Siege of Puebla, O'Horán launched a raid through the French siege lines to deliver goods to the Republicans which helped to prolong the siege. Due to his military accomplishments, Juárez made O'Horán the military governor of Morelia and later, Governor of the State of Mexico. However, after the Republican forces evacuated Central Mexico and in a difficult employment position, O'Horán defected to the Imperial Mexican Army and managed to quell the unrest at

Tlalpan Tlalpan ( nci, Tlālpan, , place on the earth, ) is a borough (''demarcación territorial'') in Mexico City. It is the largest borough, with over eighty percent under conservation as forest and other ecologically sensitive area. The rest, almost ...

. O'Horán was then made Mayor of Mexico City when Juárez's forces began to lay siege at Mexico City. Despite putting up resistance, O'Horán was forced to flee the city but while fleeing, was apprehended and sentenced to death for treason. General

Porfirio Díaz José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori ( or ; ; 15 September 1830 – 2 July 1915), known as Porfirio Díaz, was a Mexican general and politician who served seven terms as President of Mexico, a total of 31 years, from 28 November 1876 to 6 Decem ...

requested Juárez to pardon O'Horán due to his previous service but Juárez was adamant on the execution of O'Horán. He then wrote a manifesto, claiming that he simply wanted to bring order to Mexico, never intended to back the interests of foreign powers and didn't deserve death for a political error due to his prior service in serving the country. Nonetheless, O'Horán was executed by firing squad on August 21, 1867.

References

Bibliography

*''Diccionario Porrúa'', 6th Edition, Editorial Porrúa, Mexico, 1995 * Archivo General Nacional, Mexico * Arturo Erosa Barbachano ''Biografía del doctor Agustín Jorge O'Horán Escudero'',

Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán The Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (''Autonomous University of Yucatan''), or UADY, is an autonomous public university in the state of Yucatán, Mexico, with its central campuses located in the state capital of Mérida. It is the largest ter ...

, 2005 {{DEFAULTSORT:O'Horán y Escudero, José 1819 births 1867 deaths Mexican people of Irish descent Guatemalan emigrants to Mexico Liberalism in Mexico Mexican generals Mexican monarchists Politicians from Yucatán (state) People from Guatemala City People of Mexican side in the Texas Revolution Mexican military personnel of the Mexican–American War Reform War Second French intervention in Mexico 19th-century Mexican military personnel 19th-century Mexican politicians Executed Mexican people People executed by Mexico by firing squad People executed for treason against Mexico Executed military personnel Governors of the State of Mexico Heads of Government of Mexico City