Tomás Mejía Camacho


José Tomás de la Luz Mejía Camacho, better known as Tomás Mejía, was a Mexican soldier. He was of Otomi indigenous origin and came from a humble background, studying in the local rural school. He served in the Mexican Army from 1841 to 1867, fought against the Americans in the Mexican-American War where he distinguished himself at the Battle of Buena Vista.
Born in Pinal de Amoles, Sierra Gorda, Querétaro, he fought as a cavalry general on the side of Maximilian I of Mexico during the war between Monarchists and Republicans after the French intervention in 1862 and the rise of the Second Mexican Empire in 1863–1864.
He was executed by the Liberal Republicans, together with General Miguel Miramón and Emperor Maximilian I in Querétaro in 1867.
'', Édouard Manet 1868. Tomás Mejía is on the left.