Anastasio Bustamante, a Mexican physician, soldier, and statesman, born at Jiquilpan, in the province of Michoacan, July 27, 1780, died at San Miguel de Allende, Feb. 6, 1853. He was family physician to Don Felix Maria Calleja, military governor at San Luis Potosi, who in 1808 gave him a commission in the San Luis regiment of militia, composed of the sons of the wealthy. He served in all the campaigns in which Calleja commanded till 1819, gaining distinction especially in the battles of Aculco, Guanajuato, and Calderon, and at the siege of Cuautla in 1812, and rising to the rank of colonel. In 1820, having gained the confidence of Iturbide, he was made chief commander of the cavalry, and in 1821 member of the provisional junta. He was shortly afterward raised to the rank of field marshal by the regency, and appointed captain general of the eastern and western provinces of the interior. In April, 1822, he gained a signal victory over the remaining Spanish forces near Juchi. After the death of Iturbide, having taken sides with the federal party, he was by the government of Victoria appointed anew military governor of the provinces of the interior, with the rank of general of division, then the highest in the Mexican army.

In 1829 he headed the revolution, and proclaimed the plan of Jalapa toward the end of the same year; and the commencement of the following year found him vice president of the republic and exercising the supreme executive power. In 1832, a new revolution having taken place under Santa Anna, Bustamante resigned the presidency. In 1833 he was exiled and visited the principal countries of Europe, but especially France, where he resided till 1836, when he was recalled by the government after the fall of Santa Anna. He was reelected president of the republic about the middle of 1837, his administration continuing until the end of 1841. He then set out anew for Europe, and remained there till 1845. The next year he was appointed president of the congress, the last important office that he filled. Bustamante was one of the most honorable of the public men of Mexico, and the republic was prosperous under his administration.