Guillermo Prieto Pradillo (10 February 1818 – 2 March 1897) was a Mexican novelist, short-story writer, poet, chronicler, journalist, essayist, patriot and Liberal politician. According to Eladio Cortés, during his lifetime he was considered Mexico's national poet, and his political allegiance to the Mexican liberals allowed him to serve as Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs under different administrations. In his writings he used several pen names, including Don Benedeno and Fidel. Early years Prieto was born in Mexico City, the son of José María Prieto Gamboa and Josefa Pradillo y Estañol. His childhood was spent near Molino del Rey (King's Mill), next to the historic Chapultepec Castle, since his father administered the mill and the associated bakery. When Prieto was 13 his father died and his mother had a nervous breakdown. Andrés Quintana Roo and Fernando Calderón took him under his protection, and he was thus able to continue his studies. After working in a clothing store and in the customs, he entered the Colegio de San Juan de Letrán. Together with Manuel Toussaint Ferrer and the brothers José María y Juan Lacunza, he founded the Academia de Letrán in June 1836, with the aim of "the Mexicanization of literature". Quintana Roo was named "perpetual director" of the Academy. Prieto began his career as a journalist and theater critic with El Siglo XX, publishing the column Los San Lunes de Fidel. He worked for El Monitor Republicano, and together with Ignacio Ramírez he founded the satirical periodical Don Simplicio. A supporter of the Liberal Party from a young age, he advocated its positions in the press and in his other writings. Political career Prieto became personal secretary of Valentín Gómez Farías and Anastasio Bustamante, in succession. Under Bustamante he was editor of El Diario Oficial. He was minister of finance (hacienda) under Presidents Mariano Arista, Juan Álvarez and Benito Juárez. He was a congressional deputy 15 times and a representative of Puebla in the constituent congress of 1856-57. Together with other Liberals he supported the Plan de Ayutla, proclaimed March 1, 1854 and aimed at overthrowing dictator Antonio López de Santa Anna. For this he suffered temporary exile in Cadereyta, Guanajuato. As minister of finance under President Juárez, he accompanied the president into exile after the coup by Félix Zuloaga. During the subsequent War of the Reform, he saved the life of President Juárez in Guadalajara by stepping between