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"What's
in a Name Part III Ramon Corona" Ramon Corona was born in Tuxcueca, Jalisco, in 1837. There is no record of his family or his early aduca- tion. The first notations of his career show us that he joined a liberal party to protest the rule of a party boss named Lozada. With a group of young men they were able to take over the town of Acaponeta and subsequently became allied with Colonel Bonifacio Pena. Colonel Pew was soon to lose his life in battle and Ramon Corona took over as commander at twenty-two years of age. He organized three offensives but had only partial success. In 1863 the country was already invaded by the French. Finding he could no longer pay his soldiers, he disbanded his troop, but continued his military activities by organizing small national guards in the villages he contolled. Twice he went to President Juarez seeking help to no avail. The canton of Tepic remained in the hands of his old enemy, Rozada who now was aided by the French interventionalists. Corona joined General Uraga’s army, as did General Ignacio Zaragoza. In 1866, after the death of his general and also Zaragoza, Corona directed guerilla movements against the French. On the 15th of May, 1866, President Juarez named him General in command of the Army of the Eastern Forces. Brigades under his command defeated the French everywhere he attacked clearing the way to Colima, Guadalajara, and finally, Guanajuato, to participate in the final action which marked the end of the French Intervention, on March 6th, 1867. At the beginnng of 1871, Corona was placed in charge of the military establishment of Jalisco. By 1873, at the head of 2,200 men he repulsed 8,000 native guerrillas led by Lozada at La Mojonera, just five kilometers from Chapala. His old enemy fled into the mountains and Corona pursued him for six rnonths. At last they took him prisoner and had him shot by a firing squad in Tepic. Ramon Corona was appointed ministor Plenepotentiary to Spain and Portugal. Eleven years in this position, he returned home to Mexico. In January, 1886, he won the election as governor of the State of Jalisco. During his administration, he founded the “Monte de Piedad,” National Pawn Shop and Savings Bank. His accomplishments and achievements were monumental. Among them he: organized the State financed primary school system; increased the nurnber of nursery schools, from 200 to 423; facilitated the Notary Public Law to pass; abolished revenue officers positions; began construction of the Railroad from Mexico City to Guadalajara; reformed the Medical School; took steps to initiate the “Banco de Londres,” in Jalisco, and balanced public financing. He was indeed a man of all parts. On Novernber 10
1889, on the way to the theatre with his wife, ha was attacked and severely
beaten by a 22-year-old youth, Primitivo Ron, who took his own life.
Ramon Corona died the following day. Congress declared him a Hero of
the Nation. |