General Félix Zuloaga

General Félix Zuloaga (1813-1898) was a conservative Mexican general and politician who was a central figure in the War of Reform (1858-1861), a brutal civil war between Mexican liberals and conservatives. He served as the interim, and unconstitutional, conservative president of Mexico in opposition to the liberal constitutional president, Benito Juárez. 

Military Career

Zuloaga had a long military career that began in 1834. He fought in various conflicts, including campaigns against native groups, the "Pastry War" against France, and the Mexican-American War, where he directed fortifications in Monterrey.

Plan of Tacubaya

Zuloaga is most known for issuing the Plan of Tacubaya on December 17, 1857. This plan rejected the liberal Constitution of 1857, which had abolished special privileges for the Church and the military. President Ignacio Comonfort initially backed the plan, leading to a coup d'état.

Dual Presidency

The coup fractured the government and triggered the War of Reform. Zuloaga was appointed the conservative interim president in January 1858, while the liberal government, led by Benito Juárez, maintained its claim to the constitutional presidency. Mexico thus had two competing presidents and governments.