VICTORIA, Guadalupe, Mexican president, born in Tamazula, Durango, in 1789; died in Perote, 21 March, 1843. His real name was MANUEL FELIX FERNANDEZ, but after the death of Father Hidalgo in 1811 the young man abandoned the College of San Ildefonso, where he was studying, and joined the patriotic ranks, adopting as a symbol of victory and in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe the name by which he is known in history, he first took part under Morelos in the siege of Oaxaca in 1812, and in 1814 was appointed by the congress of Chilpanzingo to organize the revolution in the province of Vela Cruz, where he soon became feared by the Spaniards, as his guerillas captured nearly every supply-train that left the port for Jalapa and the interior. In 1817, when the insurrection was nearly everywhere subdued, and only General Guerrero held out in the southwest, Victoria, unable to reach the latter chief, hid for nearly four years in the mountains of Vera Cruz, till the proclamation of the plan de Iguala in 1821. Then he joined Hurbide, but, as an ardent lover of liberty, was coldly received by the latter, who was already maturing his plan of monarchy, and after its establishment Victoria was imprisoned. In December, 1822, when Santa-Anna proclaimed the republic in Vera-Cruz, Victoria, who had escaped, joined him and was appointed commander of the city. After Hurbide's fall, Victoria was elected on 1 April, 1823, to the executive council, but, being occupied in the siege of San Juan de Ulua, he did not take his seat till July, 1824. Shortly afterward he was elected the first constitutional president of Mexico, taking possession on 10 October His government was specially notable for the recognition of the republic by England, the abolition of slavery, which took place on 16 September, 1825, the surrender of the Spanish garrison of the castle of San Juan de Ulua, 18 November, 1825, and the first arrival of American settlers, under Stephen Austin, in Texas in the beginning of 1828. The last year of his administration was disturbed by several revolutions that were caused by the rivalry between the Scotch and York lodges, and the weakness of Victoria gave them free play. On 1 April, 1829, he delivered the executive to his successor, and retired from public life without appearing again in politics. He was a well-meaning and honest man, but of feeble character and easily controlled by his political followers.