Manuel del Refugio González Flores (17 June 1833 – 8 May 1893)[3] was a Mexican military general and liberal politician who served as the 35th President of Mexico from 1880 to 1884.

His presidency from 1880 to 1884 is marked by a number of major diplomatic and domestic achievements,[5] which historian Friedrich Katz considers to be no less than "the profound transformation" of Mexico.

[6] Although the González presidency has been considered corrupt, that assessment is colored by the difficult financial circumstances in 1884 and by Díaz's campaign to discredit his successor, paving the way for his own re-election in 1884.

In March 1859, he took part in an attack on Veracruz by Conservative General Miguel Miramón, against the legal, Liberal government of President Benito Juárez.

In 1860, he took advantage of an amnesty for the Conservatives decreed by Congress and offered his services to the Liberals fighting against Maximilian of Habsburg and the invasion.

[citation needed] The day he first arrived in Tepic for the quelling of that year's uprisings, González Flores was greeted with a sumptuous reception, which was intended to promote his presidential campaign.

Díaz's principal policies were concessions to foreign interests (Europe and especially the U.S.), renewed relations with European powers, and internal peace.

[21] Following the long period of political instability since Mexican independence, peace could lay the groundwork for foreign investment and infrastructure development.

[23] The expanded armed forces and the will to take of northern national territory that Apache Indians de facto controlled saw their final defeat, thereby opening up a region for settlement and economic development.

Mexican relations with Great Britain were renewed, once Mexico recognized the long-standing British bond debt from the Conservative government.

The considerable sum of £11.5 million would be a drain on the empty national treasury, with the announcement coming during a financial downturn in Mexico.

This concession provoked protests from the Mexican congress, and riots in the capital put down forcefully and brutally, damaging González's reputation.

[5][25] Aiding in the economic expansion of Mexico was the founding of the Banco Nacional de México, with French bankers playing an important role.

[26] The preference for ties with Europe was reinforced with Mexico's adoption on 20 December 1882, of the metric system of measurements, created under French emperor Napoleon, rather than the British/U.S.

In 1882, he issued nickel coins, replacing silver coinage, which produced the inflation rate and prompted the devaluation of the currency,[5] provoking riots on 21 December 1883.

[29] Rather than being punished by the legal system, González was elected governor of Guanajuato "unanimously" in 1884 and served three terms in office until his death by pancreatic cancer in 1893,[30] He made a failed attempt to succeed President Díaz in 1887.