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Vicente Ramón Guerrero Saldaña ( 10 August 1782 – 14 February 1831) was one of the leaders of Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain and an early President of Mexico. He was born in the small village of Tixtla , not far from the city of Acapulco, now in the Mexican state of Guerrero, then part of New SpainFlag of New Spain New Spain (in the Spanish language Nueva Espana was the name given to the Spanish colonial territory in North America from c. 1525 to 1821. The Capital of New Spain was Mexico City. New Spain was ruled by a Viceroy appointed by the King. He was from a poor mestizoMestizo Portuguese Mestico is a term of Spanish origin describing peoples of mixed European and Amerindian racial descent. The feminine form is mestiza . In the Philippines, the term Filipino Mestiso denotes a mixed-race person of ethnic Malay and any oth family.

He joined in the early revolt against Spain in 1810Events January 10 Marriage of Napoleon and Josephine is annulled January 20 Tyrolean rebel leader Andreas Hofer executed March 11 Napoleon marries Marie-Louise of Austria April 19 Venezuela achieves home rule: Emparan, Governor of the Captaincy General is, first fighting alongside José María MorelosJose Maria Morelos y Pavon ( 30 September 1765 22 December 1815) was one of the main early leaders of Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain. Jose Maria Morelos Morelos was born in Morelia (then known as "Valladolid" and later renamed in his honor) and then taking command over those troops after Morelos's death. The valiant resistance he displayed against the Spanish armies made him a hero among the Mexicans.

Once Mexico achieved independence he at first collaborated with Agustín de IturbideAgustin Cosme Damian de Iturbide y Aramburu ( September 27, 1783 July 19, 1824) was Emperor of Mexico from 1822 to 1823. Iturbide was born in the town now known as Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, then called Valladolid and part of the colony of New Spain. (he even accepted his Grand Cross of the Order of Guadalupe and the rank of General in his Imperial Army). However, soon after Iturbide was prolaimed himself Emperor Guerrero came out in favor of a Republic with the Plan of Casa Mata.

When the conservative Manuel Gómez Pedraza seemed set to succeed Guadalupe Victoria as president of Mexico, Guerrero, with the aid of General Antonio López de Santa Anna, staged a coup and took the presidency on 1 April 1829. (The violent nature of the coup displeased some Latin American liberals of the time who otherwise sympathised with Guerrero's goals, and his actions were condemned by Simón Bolívar.) The most notable achievement of Guerrero's short term as president was ordering an immediate abolition of slavery and emancipation of all slaves.

Guerrero was deposed in a counter-coup on 4 December 1829. He hoped to come back to power, but conservative General Anastasio Bustamente captured him through bribery and had him killed.

The Mexican state of Guerrero is named after him.