Laura Mantecón Arteaga
First Lady of Mexico 1880–1884 and the first Mexican woman to seek to get legally divorced / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Laura Fernández de Arteaga y Mantecón-Pacheco (1845 – December 14, 1900) was First Lady of Mexico and also the first Mexican woman to seek to get legally divorced. She was married to General Manuel González Flores, who served as President of Mexico from 1880 to 1884, and separated from him in 1878, while he was still President.
Laura Mantecón | |
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First Lady of Mexico | |
In office December 1, 1880 (1880-12-01) – November 30, 1884 (1884-11-30) | |
President | Manuel del Refugio González Flores |
Preceded by | Delfina Ortega Díaz |
Succeeded by | Carmen Romero Rubio |
First Lady of Guanajuato | |
In office May 31, 1885 (1885-05-31) – May 8, 1893 (1893-05-08) | |
Governor | Manuel del Refugio González Flores |
First Lady of Michoacán de Ocampo | |
In office February 15, 1877 (1877-02-15) – June 30, 1877 (1877-06-30) | |
Governor | Manuel del Refugio González Flores |
Personal details | |
Born | 1845 Oaxaca City, Oaxaca |
Died | December 14, 1900(1900-12-14) (aged 54–55) Mexico City |
Spouse(s) | Manuel del Refugio González Flores (1860-1878) |
Children | Manuel González Mantecón Fernando González Mantecón |
Profession | Homeopath |
Born into a wealthy family in Oaxaca, Mantecón was well-educated. She married González, a widower, in 1860, and they had two sons, Manuel and Fernando. Her husband was known for his dissolute lifestyle, frequently visiting brothels. Throughout their marriage, Mantecón endured physical and financial abuse. Moreover, González had numerous extramarital affairs, fathering several children whom he later acknowledged.
In 1885, Mantecón filed for what would be the first divorce case in Mexico at the second chamber of the civil court. Although she personally drafted all documents presented to the court, she was represented by Juan Cordero.[1]
She went on to establish a school, a guest house, studied homeopathy abroad, became a seamstress, and opened a women's clothing store. However, her husband continued to harass her and sabotage her ventures. Neither relatives nor friends offered her any assistance, and she spent her final days in solitude, estranged from her children, and living in poverty.