Gregorio Barandarián

Gregorio Barandiarán entered Mexico's diplomatic service in the Washington legation in 1848. He remained associated with the Conservative government during the War of Reform and served as acting head of the mission in 1858–59. He subsequently continued to advocate the Conservative cause from New York. ^{1, 2, 3}

In December 1859, Octaviano Muñoz Ledo wrote to Barandiarán in New York, acknowledged his report on the negotiations between Juárez and Washington and directed him to circulate Conservative military news among members of Congress. He was also asked to place articles in opposition newspapers and argue that the Veracruz government could not make a valid treaty without legislative approval. ³

He later served the imperial government in Europe. He was appointed minister plenipotentiary in July 1865. In Austria he helped seek the return of three Mexican featherwork objects. Emperor Franz Joseph agreed to return only the cuexyo chimalli, a shield that reached Mexico in January 1866 and entered the national museum. Research by INAH conservators identifies Barandiarán's contribution to the negotiations and distinguishes it from the shield's physical transport by Count Bombelles. ^{4, 5}