Juan Cortina
Juan Nepomuceno Cortina, born on May 16, 1824, in Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, emerged as a significant historical figure known for his advocacy for Mexican Texans' rights. His early life was marked by the socio-economic challenges faced by his family, who experienced land disputes with Anglo Americans, leading to Cortina's growing resentment towards their authority. During the Mexican-American War, Cortina served in the Mexican army, becoming a commander of a cavalry regiment.
In 1859, he ignited the first "Cortina War" after witnessing the mistreatment of a fellow ranch hand, which escalated into a series of confrontations with local authorities and Anglo settlers. Cortina's efforts to assert the rights of Mexican nationals included issuing proclamations and leading armed resistance, which made him a folk hero among those he sought to protect. His actions highlighted the tensions between Mexican Americans and Anglos during a tumultuous period in American history, ultimately contributing to broader discussions about rights and representation. Cortina's legacy reflects both his resistance against oppression and the complex dynamics of frontier life in 19th-century Texas. He died on October 30, 1894, in Mexico, leaving behind a controversial yet significant historical footprint.
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Subject Terms
Juan Cortina
Mexican-born criminal and activist
- Born: May 16, 1824
- Birthplace: Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Died: October 30, 1894
- Place of death: Atzcapotzalco, Mexico
Cortina was a Mexican Texan rancher from a wealthy family. He fought for the rights of poorer Mexicans living in Texas. Cortina also fought for the Mexican army and served as governor of Tamaulipas. He eventually was imprisoned in Mexico without a trial for almost fifteen years.
Early Life
Juan Nepomuceno Cortina (NEH-poh-mew-SAY-noh cohr-TEE-nah) was born May 16, 1824, in Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. His parents, Estefana Goseacochea and Trinidad Cortina, both had been married before and each had two sons. In addition to Cortina, Estefana and Trinidad had two more children together, Jose Maria and Maria del Carmen. Cortina, nicknamed Cheno, was slender, with reddish-blond hair and gray eyes.
Cortina’s family had been living in the Rio Grande Valley for generations. His great-grandfather was among the first settlers to arrive in the area. Estefana was from a wealthy, aristocratic family. She inherited a large ranch near Brownsville, Texas. The family moved to Matamoros when Cortina was a child. They later moved to his mother’s ranch in Santa Rita, Texas.
The Cortina family had several land disputes with Anglo Americans. Cortina also saw and experienced harassment and grew to hate Anglos for their mistreatment of poorer Mexican Texans. At the beginning of the Mexican-American War, Cortina was twenty-two years old. He joined the Mexican army and served under General Mariano Arista. Cortina recruited a group of irregular cavalry of local cowboys and ranch hands. The regiment, known as the Tamaulipas, was placed under Cortina’s command. They fought in the battles of Resaca de la Palma and Palo Alto. The war ended February 2, 1848, with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago.
Life’s Work
Cortina’s antipathy toward Anglo authority figures soon included local judges and lawyers, whom he saw as corrupt. He felt they were extorting land from the Mexicans who did not understand the American legal system. He gathered and trained a group of followers that functioned as a private army. An incident on July 13, 1859, started the first “Cortina War.” Cortina saw a Brownsville marshal brutally arresting Tomas Cabrera, a ranch hand he knew. Cortina intervened and shot the marshal in the shoulder. On September 28, Cortina and his gang rode into Brownsville and seized control of the town, killing five people. On September 30, Cortina issued a proclamation asserting the rights of Mexicans and demanded punishment for anyone violating their rights.
Men from Brownsville formed a posse, the Tigers, and attacked Cortina’s ranch with the help of a Mexican militia group. Cortina and his men easily defeated them and demanded Cabrera’s release. In early November, the first company of Texas Rangers arrived. Cabrera was hanged the next day, and another attack on Cortina failed. Cortina issued his second proclamation on November 23, asking Governor Sam Houston to defend the Mexicans’ rights. A few weeks later, more Rangers and 165 soldiers arrived in Brownsville. Cortina and his four hundred men retreated upriver. They were defeated in battle at Rio Grande City.
After a failed attempt to capture a steamboat, Cortina retreated into the Burgos Mountains. Cortina started his second war in May, 1861, soon after the beginning of the American Civil War. Cortina invaded and attacked the city of Carrizo. He was defeated by Confederate captain Santos Benavides and returned to Mexico. In May, 1862, the French invaded Mexico. Cortina fought against the French at first, then joined them. Later, he gathered an army, defeated the French, and declared himself governor of Tamaulipas in 1864 and 1865.
Cortina returned to Texas in 1870, and while he was accused of running a cattle rustling ring, he was never arrested. He eventually was arrested in 1875 and imprisoned in Mexico City. He was released only to be recaptured the following year. Cortina was held until 1890 without ever standing trial. He died of pneumonia and heart failure October 30, 1894, in Atzcapozalco, Mexico.
Significance
Cortina fought to protect the rights of Mexican-born Texans, whom he felt were being treated unfairly by those in power. He started two small wars to draw attention to these inequalities and show that he was not afraid to commit violence. He issued two proclamations demanding rights for Mexicans. Cortina is widely considered a folk hero for having the courage to protect the Mexicans. The Cortina Wars also drew the attention of the nation and added to the uneasiness of Southerners who felt the Union could not protect those living on the frontier.
Bibliography
Larralde, Carlos, and Jose Rodolfo Jacobo. Juan N. Cortina and the Struggle for Justice in Texas. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall Hunt, 2000. A work focusing on the history of the lower Rio Grande Valley and the struggle of Mexicans along the border for civil rights. The authors portray Cortina as a revolutionary who fought racism.
Thompson, Jerry. Cortina: Defending the Mexican Name in Texas. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2007. A well-researched biography of Cortina that offers a balanced account of his life. Well-written, suitable for scholars, students, and anyone interested in Texas-Mexican history.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. Juan Cortina and the Texas-Mexico Frontier 1859-1877. El Paso: Texas Western Press, 1994. Focuses on Cortina and the border area during the mid-1800’s, and would be of interest to anyone interested in Texas-Mexican border history. Includes copies of several documents that help shed light on the various and conflicting accounts of Cortina’s character.
Thompson, Jerry, and Lawrence T. Jones. Civil War and Revolution on the Rio Grande Frontier. Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 2004. A pictorial history of the revolution on the Mexico-Texas border and the American Civil War.