Francisco de Paula Milán

Francisco de Paula Milán (c. 1821 - May 8th, 1883 (Xalapa, Veracruz) was an officier of the Mexican Army from the Liberals group, that fought in the service of Benito Juárez.

Milán completed law school at the University of Puebla. He joined the National Guard in 1847 and was involved in the defence of the ports of Veracruz and other actions against the American invasion, for which he went to prison twice.

He fought in the Mexican Reform War (1857-1861) against the Conservatives and in the setting of the French intervention in Mexico.

In 1862 he had the Greatest Mexican Victory with his contributation to the battle of May 5 (Fortress Puebla). After that, he was notified that he was the new commander of Veracruz. With his command over a small army he ambushed and eliminated a small division belonging to the French Foreign Legion on April 30, 1863. Due to this, Milán commanded: 1200 soldiers from the Army battalion and 600 men from the Cavalry-Support Troops. These formed three Infantry Battalions which each had 400 men and those who were from Córdoba under the command of Colonel Dr. Francisco Talavera, those from Xalapa were under the command of Colonel Ismael Terán and those from Veracruz were under the command of Colonel Rafael Estrada.

According to the official biography, Milán was governor of the state of Veracruz in 1866.

After the retreat of the French troops from Mexico in 1867, Milán supported the Archduke Maximillian Habsburg by sieging and occupying the ports of Veracruz.

After the victory of the republic, Milán devoted himself to a new trade. He composed the opera La Amiga de las Niñas.

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