Manuel Maria Lombardini was a Mexican soldier who served as president briefly for about three months in 1853. He rose to power in the wake of a revolution against the government of President Mariano Arista. After Arista and his successor Juan Ceballos resigned, the insurgents elevated Lombardini to the presidency as a matter of convenience, and he was only ever meant to serve as a placeholder while the true aim of the insurgents, the restoration of Santa Anna, was carried out. Lombardini would resign accordingly on April 20, and he died of pneumonia in December of the same year. Early life Manuel Maria Lombardini was born in Mexico City in 1802, and joined the military at a young age, serving with merit as a member of the artillery corps. In August, 1814 he was a member of the Patriots of Tacubaya company, and fought in the War of Mexican Independence on the side of the Spanish, before switching sides in August, 1821 to join Agustin de Iturbide's Plan of Iguala. He presented himself before the Sixth Cavalry Squadron at Toluca, and under the command of General Filisola took part in the siege of Mexico City. He left the military one year later, but political developments which led up to the Arenas Conspiracy, a plot to restore Spanish rule in 1827, led him to return to military service. First Mexican Republic During the First Mexican Republic, he joined the liberal Yorkino Party as a sublieutenant, and joined in the assault made at Tulancingo on January 7, 1828, against the Plan of Montaño in which the conservative Esoces Party led by Nicolas Bravo attempted to overthrow the government of Guadalupe Victoria. Lombardini continued to champion the causes of the Yorkino Party which included the demand for public offices, and the expulsion of the Spaniards, but during the Revolution of the Accordada during which liberal supporters fought against president elect and Minister of War Manuel Gomez Pedraza he remained loyal to the government of Guadalupe Victoria. He took part in the Plan of Jalapa against Vicente Guerreo in 1829 and was in charge of the forces destined to fight Guerrero's partisans in Chietla and Oaxaca. In 1830 he reached the rank of lieutenant. He joined the Plan of Veracruz against President Bustamante in April, 1832, joining the forces of General Ignacio Inclan with twenty five armed soldiers from Mexico City. He was made