Juan Nepomuceno Almonte

Juan Nepomuceno Almonte was born in Michoacán in 1803. He was the son of Brígida Almonte and José María Morelos. While still a child he received a command in Morelos's forces and in 1815 accompanied an insurgent diplomatic mission to the United States, where he continued his education. ^{1, 2}

After independence he entered diplomatic and military service. He worked with the Mexican mission in London and later inspected Texas, producing a detailed report in 1834. He accompanied Santa Anna's army in the 1836 campaign, was captured at San Jacinto, and traveled with the captive president to the United States. Subsequent appointments included the mission in Belgium and the War Ministry. ²

Texas again dominated his first Washington mission. In March 1845 he formally protested the American congressional resolution for annexation and requested his passport. James Buchanan's reply acknowledged the protest but declared the American decision settled, subject to Texas's acceptance. ^{3, 4}

During his second Washington assignment he handled the financial implementation of the 1853 boundary treaty. In January 1855 he notified William Marcy that Mexico had drawn three drafts of $500,000 each in favor of the New York firm Howland & Aspinwall against money due under the agreement. ⁵

Almonte subsequently promoted European intervention and a Mexican monarchy. He returned with the French expedition, headed the regency preceding Maximilian's arrival, and then represented the imperial government in France. He died in Paris in 1869. ^{2, 1}