Anastasio Bustamante

The leading voice in Mexican conservative politics for at least a decade.  The former medical doctor and retired military commander served as the country's third President. He became widely unpopular after executing his predecessor, Vincente Guerrero, and repressing liberals indiscriminately.

In 1932 liberal military officers proclaimed the Plan of Veracruz and staged a rebellion against his administration.  The rebellion originally only called for the firing of Bustamente's cabinet and a rollback of oppressive policies, but eventually targeted the President himself.  Santa Anna joined the Plan of Veracuz and Bustamente was ousted.

The Farias presidency that followed began to target conservatives, and Bustamente spent the better part of two years in exile in Europe.  He returned after the 1835 coup, serving the government as Minister of Internal and External Relations, the highest civilian office outside the Presidency.

He the leading voice amont the Jingoist conservatives and vehemently opposed the treaty with the United States.  He narrowly lost re-election to the Presidency in 1845 to Valentin Gomez Farias, and now leads the opposition to the new liberal government.