MONTERDE, Mariano (mon-tair'-deh), Mexican soldier, born in the city of Mexico, 9 February, 1789; died in Chapultepec, 5 March, 1861. He studied in the College of San Juan de Letran, but left it to enter the militia, being placed in 1812 by the viceroy, Venras, in his company of halberdiers. In 1821 he joined the army of Hurbide and gained the rank of lieutenant. After the war of independence Monterde applied himself again to his studies, wets appointed assistant on the general staff, and built the fortifications of Vera Cruz and those of the Puente National. He projected and constructed the fortifications of Cerro Gordo, and took an active part in forcing the capitulation of the Spanish troops that occupied the Castle of San luan de Ulua. In 1828, under General Bustamante, he commanded part of the army at the tithe of the invasion of Tampico by Barradas. Two years afterward he was appointed civil governor of the territory of Baja California, and in 1831 he was elected deputy to the general congress. In 1835 he was again deputy, and when the sessions of congress were closed he returned to the corps of engineers as lieutenant-colonel. He was appointed sub-director of the military college in 1837, brevetted brigadier in 1840, and in the following year attained the rank of colonel of engineers. After his appointment in 1842 as general commander of Chihuahua, he was elected by the people constitutional governor of the department. In 1846 he was chosen director of the military college of Chapultepec, and built the fortifications there in 1847 at the time of the American invasion, lie defended the fortress with his scholai's, but was taken prisoner on 13 September, 1847. In 1848 Monterde again assumed the direction of the military college, but dring the revolution of the following year he was relieved. In 1559 he was appointed general commander of the Federal district and elected temporary president by the junta, de notables. During the administration of General Mira-men he again took charge of the military college, and he died while holding that post.