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List of members of the Aztec Club of 1847

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This is a list of members of the Aztec Club of 1847. The Aztec Club of 1847 was founded as a military society of officers who served with the United States Army in the Mexican–American War.[1]

The first rank indicated is the rank held at the forming of the club during the Mexican War; the later rank is the highest full rank the officer held in Regular, Volunteer or Confederate service.

Original members

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There were a total of 160 original members of the Aztec Club, all of whom were serving in the occupation of Mexico City at the time of the Club's founding in 1847. Over time, the club's membership requirements were changed to extend membership to male descendants of officers who served in the Mexican War. Of the 160 original members, 72 became generals in either the United States Army or the Confederate States Army and a majority served in either the Union or Confederate armies during the American Civil War.

Among the Aztec Club's original members were future presidents Franklin Pierce and Ulysses S. Grant as well as Robert E. Lee.

Veteran members

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In 1871 Club members agreed to accept other officers who had served in Mexico during the Mexican War as Veteran Members; including officers of the United States Navy. Veteran Members were veterans of the Mexican War but were not among the 160 original members who formed the society in 1847.[2] As of 1895, 127 individuals had been admitted as Veteran Members – 49 of which were generals or admirals in United States or Confederate States service.

Honorary members

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Only two individuals were chosen as an honorary members of the Aztec Club.[1]

Hereditary members

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In 1883 provisions were also made to allow male relatives of officers who had died during the Mexican War, prior to the Club's founding, to become members. In 1887, membership was extended to the eldest son or nearest male relative of original and veteran members as hereditary members in order to keep the club alive after the deaths of the veterans.[2] Later, this rule was extended to include direct and collateral male descendants of eligible officers.

Trivia

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As the Mexican War was fought only 14 years prior to the American Civil War, many senior officers in both the Union and Confederate armies had been members of the Aztec Club. Of 287 members who joined the society by 1895, 121 were generals in the Union or Confederate armies.

Two presidents of the United States were members of the Aztec Club – Franklin Pierce and Ulysses S. Grant.

Another president who was a veteran of the Mexican War was President and Major General Zachary Taylor, who, although having served with great distinction during the war and despite some sources to the contrary, was not a member of the Aztec Club. He does not appear on the roll of the 160 original members of the society in The Constitution of the Aztec Club of 1847 and the List of Members, 1893.[3] This is because the Club was formed by officers serving in Mexico City in 1847 and Taylor served in northeastern Mexico.[citation needed] The Aztec Club did not expand its membership beyond the original 160 members until 1871 – 21 years after Taylor's death.[4]

John C. Breckinridge, who was Vice President of the United States from 1857 to 1861 and a candidate for president in 1860, who served with the Army of Occupation of Mexico City as the major of the 3rd Kentucky Infantry, did not join the Aztec Club before his death in 1875. He served as a Major General in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.

References

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  1. ^ a b Aztec Club of 1847. Sesquicentenial History, 1847–1997. Richard Hoag Breithaupt, Jr. 1998. pp. 950–956.
  2. ^ a b Breithaupt, pp. 759–854.
  3. ^ The Constitution of the Aztec Club of 1847 and the List of Members, 1893. Judd & Detweiler Printers. Washington, D.C. pp. 18–23.
  4. ^ The Constitution of the Aztec Club of 1847 and the List of Members. 1893. Judd and DeWeiler, Printers. pg. 12.
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