Joseph Arago


Joseph Honoré Arago, known as Joseph Arago, was a French soldier in the Mexican army.

Biography

Family

Joseph Arago was born on 2 June 1796 in Estagel, Roussillon. He was the ninth child of François Bonaventure Arago and Marie Arago, and the fifth of their six sons. His brother François became an astronomer, physician and French politician. Jean was cashier of the mint of Perpignan, and then a general in the Mexican army. Jacques took part in Louis de Freycinet's exploring voyage in the Uranie from 1817 to 1821, and on his return to France devoted himself to his journalism and the drama. Victor was a French soldier. Étienne is said to have collaborated with Honoré de Balzac in The Heiress of Birague, and from 1822 to 1847 wrote a great number of light dramatic pieces, mostly in collaboration.

Military career

Arago served in the Grande Armée and was discharged in 1815. He returned to service in 1818, participated in the Peninsular War from 1823 to 1825, and rose in rank to become a lieutenant.
In October 1827, he left for Mexico to join his brother Jean Arago, then a colonel in the Mexican army. On Jean's recommendation, Joseph was promoted to lieutenant in 1828. After two years of leave due to ill health, he was promoted to cavalry captain in 1832, while stationed in Veracruz under the command of General Santa Anna. In 1836, he married and in 1840 became aide-de-camp to the President of Mexico, Anastasio Bustamante, who appointed him major. The multiple changes at the head of Mexico had no impact on his career, but it was interrupted several times by his being forced to take leave to treat his fragile health. He ended it with the rank of colonel.
He suffered from diabetes and became blind, like several other members of his family. In 1852, already ill, he was given command of the fort of Perote, near Veracruz. With the accession to power of Benito Juárez and the beginning of the War of Reform in 1857, a period of confusion ensued. Joseph Arago was wrongly accused of having wanted to surrender the fort to the supporters of Félix María Zuloaga. Sentenced to death, he narrowly escaped the firing squad. Having been cleared, he then recovered his post.
He died on 19 September 1860 in Tacubaya.