Ignacio Zaragoza

Mexican military officer famed for the victory at Puebla against French forces.

Chronology: 1829-03-24 – 1862-09-08

Origins & Early Life

Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín (March 24, 1829 – September 8, 1862) was a Mexican military officer and politician. He is best known for leading a Mexican army of 3,791 men which defeated a 5,730-strong force of French troops at the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 during the second French intervention in Mexico. The Mexican victory is celebrated annually as Cinco de Mayo. == Early life == Zaragoza was born in the Mexican province of Texas, in the village of Bahía del Espíritu Santo, in the state of Coahuila y Tejas (now Goliad, Texas, in the United States) on March 24, 1829.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was the son of Miguel G. Zaragoza and María de Jesús Seguín, who was a niece of Erasmo Seguín and cousin of Juan Seguín. His father met his mother while on duty and stationed at Bexar in 1825. This was not a particularly wealthy upbringing for Zaragoza. The Zaragoza family moved to Matamoros in 1834 and then to Monterrey in 1844, where young Ignacio entered a seminary.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

By 1846, Zaragoza grew tired of his seminary life, instead wishing to pursue his military endeavors as a cadet for the Mexican army in the Mexican American War. == Military career == At this point in history, Mexico had already declared war on the United...

Source: Wikipedia