PEDRO DE AMPUDIA

THE MEXICAN COMMANDER WHO PUT UP A SPIRITED DEFENCE AGAINST ZACHARY TAYLOR AT MONTERREY 1805-68 MEXICO

Like Santa Anna, the Cuban-born Ampudia first gained combat experience fighting for the Spanish army during the final part of the Mexican War of Independence. He switched sides in 1821, but unlike many of his contemporaries he was not politically active, and focused on his military career.

Ampudia fought the Texans many times, including at the Alamo and San Jacinto. He personally defeated them at Ciudad Mier in 1842, but the US Army was a different proposition. Ampudia became the commander of the Mexican Army of the North after heavily criticising his predecessor following the Battle of Palo Alto. His main engagement was a determined defence of Monterrey against Zachary Taylor, but he was forced into agreeing an armistice.

After evacuating Monterrey, Ampudia fought Taylor again, commanding artillery at Buena Vista, but the Mexicans were defeated. He would go on to become the governor of

Yucatán and supported liberal policies.

Ampudia earned a reputation for brutality in 1844 when he captured a rebelling former governor of Tabasco, oversaw his execution and fried his head in oil for public display