fuckyeahlatinamericanhistory:

Today In Latin American History

February 21, 1794 marks the birthdate of Mexican caudillo Antonio López de Santa Anna. Born to a middle class family in what was then the Viceroyalty of New Spain, Santa Anna eventually joined the military as a teenager and fought during the Mexican War of Independence, the Texas Revolution, and the Mexican-American War, and acted as president of Mexico on several occasions during a period of two decades. Santa Anna famously lost a leg during Mexico’s Pastry War and had it buried with full military honors, spent time living in Staten Island, New York, was instrumental in the development of chewing gum, and was often referred to as the “Napoleon of the West”. He is best known in the United States for his involvement in the Battle of the Alamo. 

(via historicalslut)