Manuel Azpíroz

Manuel Azpíroz was a lawyer and soldier from Puebla who fought the French intervention before entering the republic's diplomatic administration. He took part in the defense of Puebla in 1862 and 1863, escaped captivity, and continued in the republican forces. After the siege of Querétaro he served as prosecutor in the court-martial that condemned Maximilian, Miguel Miramón, and Tomás Mejía. ¹

He worked in the ministry, represented Mexico before the mixed claims commission in Washington, became consul in San Francisco, and entered the Senate. He also taught law in Puebla and wrote on the legal position of foreigners and the relationship between civil liberty and private international law. He returned to the senior administration of the Foreign Ministry before becoming ambassador in 1899. ^{1, 2}

At Washington he signed the protocol with John Hay on 22 May 1902 submitting the Pious Fund of the Californias dispute to arbitration. The case concerned payments claimed for Catholic missions and institutions after the transfer of Upper California to the United States. ³

He remained ambassador until his death in Washington in March 1905. His remains were returned to Mexico and interred in the Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres. ¹