José María Patoni

José María Patoni (1828-1868) was a Mexican liberal military commander and governor of the State of Durango during the Reform War and the Second French Intervention in Mexico.

During the French Intervention, a dispute arose over succession to the presidency, and he supported the claims of Jesús González Ortega as opposed to those of acting president Benito Juarez leading to Patoni's arrest. Upon his release in 1868, he was kidnapped and murdered by General Benigno Canto, leading to rumors and an allegation from Canto himself that he was acting upon orders from Minister of War Ignacio Mejía, an accusation which the government vehemently denied. Benigno would be tried and sentenced to ten years imprisonment.