Valentín Canalizo (14 January 1794 – 20 February 1850), was a Mexican general and statesman who served twice as interim president during the Centralist Republic of Mexico and was later made Minister of War during the Mexican American War. After Santa Anna reorganized the constitution as the Bases Orgánicas in 1843, he appointed Canalizo as interim president. Canalizo in practice was a puppet ruler for Santa Anna, but Santa Anna was then popularly elected in 1844 and assumed power personally in June of that year. He took leave two months later after his wife’s death, and Canalizo once again was chosen as interim president. After Mariano Paredes raised a revolt against the government, Santa Anna took command of the military to crush the uprising. Congress criticized this as illegal since Santa Anna was not president at the time, but the Canalizo government supported Santa Anna and dissolved the congress which only provoked popular opposition and led to Canalizo's downfall. After stepping down from the presidency, he left the nation but came back to serve in the Mexican American War, during which he was appointed Minister of War under the liberal president Valentin Gomez Farias. He died in 1850. Early life Valentin Canalizo was born in Monterrey, and entered the Celaya Regiment as a cadet in August, 1811 the year after the War of Mexican Independence had begun. He ascended to the rank of sublieutenant and a year later reached the rank of lieutenant. He initially fought as a Spanish loyalist but switched sides to join Agustin de Iturbide in December 1820. He was present at the Siege of Valladolid, in the taking of San Juan del Rio y Zimapan and formed part of the forces which General Brancho surrendered to in San Luis de la Paz. He was wounded in Atzcapotzalco, and for his services at that battle was promoted to lieutenant colonel and granted an award of distinction. He held a command during the siege and taking of the capital. He joined in the uprising that led to the downfall of the First Mexican Empire, and in 1825 he was promoted to sergeant major. He served in Jalisco as an assistant to fellow future President of Mexico, General Jose Joaquin Herrera, and on December 8, 1829 he joined the Plan of Jalapa which would lead to fall of the Guerrero administration. He was placed in charge of artillery in