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 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 also joined in the pacification of Costa Chica and Las Mixtecas, being in charge of troops during a battle at Zonactlan on January 26, 1831 where he routed the guerillas of Narvaez and Lima.

After an uprising by Juan Alvarez in the south in favor of re-establishing the federal system, Canalizo was placed second in command of the troops sent to Acapulco to suppress the revolt and relieve the siege of that city.

The Plan of Huejotzingo was now proclaimed urging that congress be dissolved and replaced by a Junta of Notbles who would write a centralist constitution.

[8] It was at this point that Santa Anna chose Canalizo to hold the post of interim president while he intended to rule from behind the scenes.

[9] President Canalizo established the Sisters of Charity, assigned funds to the College of San Gregorio, published regulations on public education, and arranged a contract for new navy and army uniforms.

The deputies contained a substantial amount of opposition to Santa Anna, and they responded to the results by restricting the presidential power and forbidding further executive legislation.

[12] Santa Anna finally entered the capital on June 3, and Canalizo passed power over to him the following day.

[13] Santa Anna’s wife had died and on August 31, 1844, and he subsequently sought permission from the chamber of deputies to take leave momentarily.

As he was not legally president at the time the congress condemned Santa Anna’s assumption of military command as illegal, but he maintained support of the executive.

[17] By this time troops at the capital were expressing support for Paredes’ revolt and called upon Jose Joaquin Herrera to assume the presidency.

Herrera summoned the deposed deputies and on December 6, issued an appeal to Canalizo to support congress and prevent bloodshed.

His conduct during that battle, retreating without fighting, and abandoning a large amount of supplies, led to a congressional proposal to start an investigation.