Gabriel Valencia Gabriel Valencia ( 1799 – 1848 ) was a Mexican soldier in the early years of the Republic . From December 30 , 1845 to January 2 , 1846 he served as interim president of Mexico . Valencia joined the Spanish colonial army before Mexican independence , but transferred his allegiance to the Mexican army in 1821 . He made friends in the military and government , becoming a power in Mexican politics . He forged an uneasy alliance with Antonio López de Santa Anna , a powerful figure repeatedly in and out of the presidency during this period . The " Plan de la Ciudadela " , 1841 . In 1840 and 1841 there were several related rebellions against Anastasio Bustamante , then in his third period as president of Mexico . Bustamante was an adherent of the centralist party . On July 15 , 1840 , soldiers led by rebellious General José Urrea and Valentín Gómez Farías took the presidential palace and captured President Bustamante , later releasing him . The chief of the general staff , General Gabriel Valencia , helped subdue the revolt . Shortly thereafter , Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga rose against Bustamante in Guadalajara , Juan N . Álvarez in the south , and López de Santa Anna in Perote , Veracruz . This time , on September 4 , 1841 , Valencia joined the rebellion by publishing the " Plan de la Ciudadela " . The situation was now serious for Bustamante , himself a general . He took the field to fight the rebels , but was defeated . Bustamante went into exile in Europe for a second time ( in Italy ) . The generals arrayed against him then reached a political agreement proclaimed as the " Plan de Tacubaya " . This plan proclaimed the presidency vacant and named a provisional president to call elections for a constituent congress . This provisional president was , once again , López de Santa Anna . This was his sixth term as president . Overthrow of President Herrera , 1845 . After several other changes in the office of president ( including two more intervals by Santa Anna ) , José Joaquín de Herrera became interim president on December 17 , 1844 . He became constitutional president on September 16 , 1845 . Two days before , General Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga again revolted , in opposition to Herrera . In December 1845 Herrera announced he was setting out at the head of an expedition to repel North American invaders , who had reached Saltillo . General Paredes used this opportunity to seize power . On December 30 , 1845 , General Valencia , now in charge of the garrison of Mexico City , announced his support for Paredes . Out of options , Herrera turned power over to Valencia . As interim president of Mexico . By operation of law , Gabriel Valencia , as chairman of the Governing Council is who should assume the presidency following the resignation of President Jose Joaquin de Herrera . This was a temporary appointment , meant only to serve the transfer of power . A junta , led by the archbishop of Mexico City , Manuel Posada , was convoked . On January 2 , 1846 this junta elected General Paredes interim president . Valencia ' s term had lasted three days . Mexican - American War . In 1847 General Valencia was among the Mexican forces opposing General Winfield Scott ' s advance from Veracruz to Mexico City in the Mexican - American War . On August 19 , 1847 , Scott ' s forces attacked those of Valencia in the town of Contreras , near Mexico City . Because of rivalry between Valencia and López de Santa Anna , Valencia had advanced beyond his assigned position . Santa Anna could not send reinforcements . The Mexicans were badly defeated on August 20 . The remnants of Valencia ' s forces fell back to Churubusco , joining Santa Anna ' s forces there . Scott continued his advance , and the Mexicans were defeated again at Chapultepec ( September 13 ) , leaving the way open to Mexico City , that finally was occupied on September 16 .