President of Mexico, and the only one to serve a full term until 1852. Vicente Guerrero – Second president of Mexico; also known for abolishing slavery, which had mostly ceased to exist in Mexico except for Texas. Valentín Gómez Farías – attempted a series of sweeping anti-clerical reforms during his first presidency in 1832, but was overthrown in response. He also briefly served as president during the Mexican–American War during which he was similarly overthrown. His reforms would later be more successfully implemented during La Reforma. Santa Anna – While known for repeatedly switching sides he began his public life as a liberal and was first elected to the presidency as a liberal in 1832. He also briefly returned to liberal principles at the beginning of the Mexican–American War when he played a role in restoring the Constitution of 1824. José Joaquín de Herrera – overthrown by hardliners in the years leading up to the Mexican–American War. The terrible results of the war vindicated his peace policy, and he was elected again immediately after the war, being the first Mexican president to complete his term since 1824. Pedro María de Anaya served two brief presidencies during the Mexican American War. Mariano Arista – Succeeded José Joaquín de Herrera and was also known for a peaceful, moderate era of rule, before being overthrown over sweeping budget cuts. Juan Álvarez – Caudillo long based in the Tierra Caliente. He helped overthrow the last dictatorship of Santa Anna through the Plan of Ayutla inaugurating La Reforma and reaching the presidency. He later resigned hoping that the more moderate Ignacio Comonfort could better implement reforms. Ignacio Comonfort – The Constitution of 1857 was promulgated under his rule, but the subsequent backlash caused Comonfort to support a self coup known as the Plan of Tacubaya, which triggered the Reform War, and then caused Comonfort to back away from the Conservatives and resign the presidency. Benito Juárez – Oaxacan lawyer who later became governor of that state. He was among the liberals exiled in 1853 by Santa Anna, but returned to the nation during the Plan of Ayutla and was later made president of the Supreme Court which brought him to the presidency at the resignation of Comonfort. He remained president through the Reform War and the Second French Intervention before dying in office in 1872. Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada – Brother of the liberal statesman