José María Patoni
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José María Patoni | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Governor of Durango | |
| In office 1859–1864 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1828 |
| Died | 18 August 1868 (aged 39–40) |
| Party | Liberal |
José María Patoni (1828–1868) was a Mexican liberal military commander and governor of the State of Durango during the Reform War and the Second French intervention in Mexico.
During the French Intervention, a dispute arose over succession to the presidency, and he supported the claims of Jesús González Ortega as opposed to those of acting president Benito Juárez leading to Patoni's arrest. Upon his release in 1868, he was kidnapped and murdered by General Benigno Canto, leading to rumors and an allegation from Canto himself that he was acting upon orders from Minister of War Ignacio Mejía, an accusation which the government vehemently denied.[1] Benigno would be tried and sentenced to ten years imprisonment.
He was the second son of Mercedes Sánchez and Juán Bautista Patoni, a native of Tyrol, Austria (then part of the Austrian Archduchy). He was born in 1828 in Santiago Papasquiaro, State of Durango. He lived there until 1858 engaged in mining, playing a key role in developing the mining industry, and due to his liberalism he was appointed commander of the state militia, by the government of Durango, then headed by José Patricio de la Bárcena.[2]
Reform War
After the Reform War began, Patoni corresponded with the various liberal leaders, and in 1858 he joined Ramon Coronado with 100 men, armed and equipped at his expense. He attended the siege and capture of Durango with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and due to having been severely wounded, while also leading the action in a brilliant manner, he was promoted by Santos Degollado. The liberals secured the state of Durango, and Patoni, after he got well after six months of illness, returned to Guanaceví to his private business.[2]
In the year 1859, the conservative campaign returned to the state, under the so-called "Teulises" movement named after the Zacatecan town of their origin, San Andrés Teúl, commanded by the famous Spanish Domingo Cajén. Patoni rearmed his guerrillas, at his own expense, and dedicated himself to persecuting the Teulises. Shortly after, he was called to the aid of Durango by the governor, Juán José Zaldívar, who, convinced of his lack of aptitude to govern the state in such difficult circumstances, resigned from the position, which fell to Patoni, by agreement of the majority of the Legislature.[2]
His first duty in power was, as expected, organizing and disciplining his army to combat the reactionary troops, which, under Cajen's orders, had managed to take over almost the entire state. In July 1860, with an infantry troop, he joined General Pedro Hinojosa and between the two they beat and defeated Cajén at the Hacienda de la Flor; but the next day, the conservative General Silverio Ramírez arrived with a brand-new division and defeated the Liberal forces.[2]