Antonio López de Santa Anna was a Mexican general and politician who played a significant role in the early history of Mexico. Born in 1794, he became a prominent leader during the Texas Revolution and served multiple terms as president of Mexico. His leadership was marked by both military successes and failures. Santa Anna is perhaps best known for his role in the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, where his forces defeated Texan defenders. However, his defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto led to the loss of Texas for Mexico. He remains a controversial figure in Mexican history.