Joaquín Degollado (born before 1834, death date unknown) and Mariano Degollado (born ca. 1834, died before August 1923) were sons of General Santos Degollado. Under President Antonio López de Santa Anna, the Degollado family suffered separations, persecution, exile, and poverty.
In 1855 Mariano was exiled to the United States. He worked as a clerk and later as an assistant at the Mexican Legation in Washington, D.C., during the presidency of Benito Juárez. In 1864 Mariano married Otilia Jordan, a Virginian. Joaquín was a lawyer and in 1856 became deputy for Jalisco to the Constituent Congress. During the reign of Emperor Maximilian the brothers accepted assignments and honors from him. In 1865 Joaquín was appointed to the Council of State and to a commission sent to Rome to negotiate a concordat between Mexico and the Vatican. Also in 1865, Mariano was appointed chamberlain in Maximilian's court, member of the Council for Protection of the Needy, and confidential agent in Washington for Maximilian.
When Maximilian's government was overthrown in 1867, Mariano and Joaquín again went into exile. Mariano spent four years in Guatemala, where he was successful in business and public life. Mariano returned to Mexico around 1879 and found Joaquín living in poverty.
From the guide to the Joaquín and Mariano Degollado Collection 30413317., 1861-1923, 1861-1867, (Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin)
