Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/693

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ZARCO
ZEILIN

tacked the administration, and contributed to the fall of the government of Gen. Arista. He was elected a member of congress in 1855, and in the session of 1856 defended the reform laws with en- thusiasm. On the accession of Zuloaga he was persecuted by the government, and for more than two years remained concealed, but published " El Boletin Clandestino"and "Los asesinatos de Ta- cubaya," which were distributed broadcast. Being discovered by the police, 13 May, 1860, he was im- prisoned till the fall of the reactionary govern- ment, 25 Dec, 1860. Juarez, on his return to the capital, appointed him secretary of state and presi- dent of the council. But when congress assem- bled and the votes of five states, electing him to that body, were declared illegal, he resigned, and returned to the direction of " El Siglo XIX." On the departure of the republican government from Mexico, he followed Juarez, publishing " La Inde- pendencia Mexicana " in San Luis Potosi, and " La Action " in Saltillo. He then went to the United States. After the return of the republican govern- ment he was elected to congress for the Federal district. He died poor, notwithstanding he had been financial agent of the government without restriction during the residence of Juarez in Vera Cruz. Congress voted a pension to his family, and inscribed his name in the legislative hall.


ZARCO, Giulio, Italian missionary, b. in Na- ples in 1490 : d. in Jalisco, Mexico, in 1549. He was educated in Spain, entered the Franciscan order, and was among the twelve friars that came to Mexico in 1524 with Martin de Valencia. He learned the Indian languages, and in 1525 was sent to the province of Michoacan with another missionary and the king Catzonzi, whom he had just baptized, and labored there with success, es- tablishing schools for the Indians, and building chapels, churches, hospitals, and a college for the new converts. He became afterward provincial of Jalisco, and met with remarkable success. Zarco was very proficient in Indian dialects, and wrote numerous hymns and prayers in Aztec. He also translated several passages of scripture and com- posed in Tarasco " Doctrina Cristiana," which is preserved in manuscript in the Vatican library at Rome, and mentioned with praise by several au- thors. He wrote also " Arte de la lengua Tarasca," which is cited by Ramusio and Ternaux Compans. The manuscript is lost, but an abridged copy of it is in the National library of Paris.


ZAVALA, Lorenzo de (thah-vah'-lah), Mexican statesman, b. in Merida, Yucatan, 3 Oct, 1788; d. in Harrisburg, Tex., 16 Nov., 1836. He studied in the Seminary of San Ildefortso, in his native city. In 1812 he participated in the revolutionary move- ment of Yucatan, supporting the junta de San Juan, and founding the first newspaper in the Seninsula that defended Liberal principles. In lay, 1814, he was arrested and sent to the castle of San Juan de Ulua, where he remained a prisoner for three years, employing his time in studying medicine and English. In 1820 he was sent as deputy for Yucatan to the Spanish cortes. He returned to Mexico in 1822, was elected to the 1st congress, and soon became a leader. After the fall of the empire under Iturbide he was the chief de- fender of the Federal cause in the " Aguila Mexi- cana " and in congress, and as president of that body signed the Federal constitution, 4 Oct., 1824. In 1825 he was elected senator for Yucatan in the 1st Constitutional congress, joining the Federal party, and in 1827 he became governor of the state of Mexico. After the accession of Gen. Vicente Guerrero, he was called in 1829 to the portfolio of the treasury. When Guerrero's government was overthrown by Bustamante, Zavala travelled in the United States and Europe. In 1832, after the fall of Bustamante, he returned and was reinstated as governor of the state of Mexico, and toward the end of 1833 he was sent as minister to France, but, on the deposition of Vice-President Gomez Farias, he resigned and went to Texas, where he had ex- tensive property. When the province rose against Mexico, in consequence of the prohibition against selling land to American citizens, Zavala joined the insurgents, who proclaimed the re-establishment of the Federal constitution of 1824, and was sent as deputy for Harrisburg to the convention of Austin, which on 7 Nov., 1835. declared war. He was also a member of the deputation that was sent to Wash- ington which declared the independence of Texas, 2 March, 1836. He was the author of " Ensayo historico de las Revoluciones de Mexico, desde 1808 hasta 1830" (2 vols., Paris, 1831) and " Viaje a los Estados Unidos de Norte America" (1834).


ZEA, Francisco Antonio (thay-ah), Colombian statesman, b. in Medellin, 21 Oct., 1770; d. in Bath; England, 22 Nov., 1822. He acquired his primary education in the Seminary of Popayan, and in 1786 entered the College of San Bartolome of Bogota. There he wrote for the “Papel Periodico” his “Hebephilo,” inviting young men to the study of nature, and in 1789, when Jose Celestino, sage Mutis, retired from the academy known as the Expedicion botanica, Zea was appointed his successor. In 1794, with Antonio Nariño, he was implicated in the circulation of the “Droits de l'homme,” sent to Spain, and for two years kept prisoner in the fortress of Cadiz. Although absolved in 1799, he was sent to France on a scientific mission, as the government desired to keep him away from New Granada. On his return, in 1803, he was still prohibited from returning to his country, and was appointed director of the botanical cabinet of Madrid. He was elected member of several Spanish scientific societies, and was editor of the “Mercurio de España” and “Semanario de Agricultura.” In 1808 he espoused the French cause, was appointed chief clerk of the secretary of the interior, and afterward prefect of Malaga. After the retreat of the French from Spain he went to England and by way of Jamaica joined Bolivar in Hayti in 1815. He accompanied the liberator in his expedition to Venezuela in March, 1816, and was appointed general intendant of the army. He was chosen by Bolivar in 1817 a member of the council of state in Angostura, founded with Dr. Roscio the “Correo de Orinoco,” and in 1819, when the congress of Angostura met, he was elected its president. During the absence of Bolivar on his expedition to New Granada, Zea was in charge of the executive as vice-president till he resigned, 14 Sept., 1819. in consequence of the intrigues of Gen. Arismendi. After the proclamation of Colombia as a republic, Bolivar was elected president and Zea vice-president. In 1820 he went as minister to England and France; but his financial negotiations were unfortunate. He was the author of “Las Quinas de Nueva Granada” (Madrid, 1805); “Descripción del Salto de Tequendama” (1806); and “Historia de Colombia” (Paris, 1821).


ZEILIN, Jacob, officer of marines, b. in Philadelphia. Pa., 16 July, 1806; d. in Washington, D. C., 18 Nov., 1880. He entered the marine corps and was commissioned a 2d lieutenant, 1 Oct., 1831, promoted to 1st lieutenant, 12 Sept., 1836, and cruised in the “Columbus” and “Congress” in 1845-'8 during the Mexican war. He participated in the operations on the Pacific coast and in de-