Joaquín Velázquez de León

Joaquín Velázquez de León combined scientific teaching, military engineering, and public administration. Born in 1803, he studied at the Colegio de Minería, joined the Army of the Three Guarantees in 1821, and served in the engineers. He later taught physics, including mechanics and the principles of perspective, and received government support to study architecture in Rome. ¹

His Washington work began with the commission established to settle American claims against Mexico under the convention of 1839. President Bustamante appointed him and Pedro Fernández del Castillo as Mexico's commissioners in June 1840. The board met in Washington from August 1840 to February 1842, examining claims concerning injuries to people and property. When the commissioners disagreed, cases could pass to the umpire appointed by Prussia. Velázquez subsequently served briefly as the legation's acting head. ^{2, 3}

Back in Mexico he headed the Ministry of Fomento, Colonization, Industry and Commerce and directed the Colegio de Minería at intervals. With his nephew Miguel Velázquez de León he prepared the first curriculum for the National School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. The plan joined preparatory scientific study to separate programs in agriculture and veterinary practice. ^{1, 4}

He later joined the delegation that offered the Mexican crown to Maximilian. He lived until 1882. ⁵