Nicolás Bravo Rueda

Nicolás Bravo belonged to the wealthy Creole family, but joined the revolutionary forces under José María Morelos in 1811. Bravo was one of the key commanders in the war of Independence against Spain. When Mexico became an independent nation in 1821, Bravo entered the politics and was included in the membership of Regency (11 Apr 1822 - 19 May 1822). After the downfall of the Iturbide empire in 1823, Bravo again became a member of the Supreme Executive Power (31 Mar 1823 - 10 Oct 1824). In October 1824, Bravo was elected vice president (10 Oct 1824), but in 1827 he opened a long sequence of insurrections against the constitutional power by taking arms against the president Guadalupe Victoria. The revolt was suppressed, but Bravo soon returned to politics and was elected president of the Republic in September 1828. However, the Convenio de Zabaleta annulled the 1828 elections and Bravo never entered the office occupied by Manuel Gómez Pedraza and then by General Antonio López de Santa Anna.

Bravo headed the Council of Government during the second administration of Anastasio Bustamante. On 10 Jul 1839, the Congress issued a decree to the effect that Bravo, as president of the Council of Government, should assume the presidency since Interim President López de Santa Anna, who substituted Constitutional President Bustamante, pleaded illness and was not able to exercise his duties. Bravo assumed the presidency at about 20.00, 10 Jul 1839, and immediately took the oath of office. After this late-at-night installation, Bravo occupied presidency from 11 Jul 1839 until Bustamante returned to the capital on 17 Jul 1839.