GOROSTIZA, Manuel Eduardo de (go-ros-te'-tha), Mexican dramatist, born in Vera Cruz, 13 October, 1789; died in Tacubaya, 23 October, 1851. He was educated in Madrid, and at the age of twelve years wrote a comedy. He entered the Spanish guard as a cadet in 1803, and left the service in 1814 with the rank of lieutenant colonel, to devote himself to literary work, and wrote much in defense of liberal ideas. In 1823 he was banished to England, but returned to Mexico in 1833, in the same year was elected deputy to the National congress, in 1838 secretary of the treasury, and in 1839 secretary of foreign relations. In 1844 he went as envoy extraordinary to the United States, and displayed diplomatic skill in the difficulties regarding the threatened annexation of Texas. He fought in the defence of Churubusco in 1847. Gorostiza took much interest in education, and was also director of the National theatre. In 1851 his bust was placed in the hall of the National theatre of Mexico. His best-known comedies are "Tal para Cual," "Las Costumbres de Antano," and "Don Dieguito," which were published and represented in Madrid in 1821; and of his later works, "Contigo Pan y Cebolla," which was adapted in French by Scribe under the name of "Une chaumiere et son cceur."