Francisco Indalecio Madero

Francisco Indalecio Madero (1873-1913), Mexican revolutionary, statesman, and president of Mexico (1911-1913), born October 30, 1873, in Parras de la Fuenta, Coahuila State, and educated at the University of California, United States. Although he came from a family of landowners, Madero was an exponent of political and agrarian reform. He was also an outspoken critic of the dictatorial regime of President Porfirio Díaz and in 1908 wrote La successión presidencial en 1910 (The Presidential Succession in 1910), urging the voters not to re-elect Díaz. In spite of suppression by the government, the book was widely circulated and established Madero as Díaz's principal political opponent. During the presidential election campaign of 1910, however, Madero was jailed for allegedly fomenting a revolt and Díaz thus succeeded in winning the election. Madero was released in November 1910 and fled to Texas, from where he proclaimed a revolution against Díaz. Madero re-entered Mexico and launched a military campaign that culminated in the capture of Ciudad Juárez in May 1911. Díaz resigned, Madero became provisional president, and in November 1911, Madero was elected president of Mexico. He retained in office the congress members of the Díaz regime and the army officers who had served him. Madero was unable to carry out any of his political and social reforms because of dissent among his supporters and his own administrative inability. He survived several insurrections but in 1912 simultaneous rebellions broke out in northern and southern Mexico, and in February 1913, the commander in chief of the army, General Victoriano Huerta, overthrew Madero and assumed the presidency. On February 22, 1913, while awaiting trial on a charge of treason, Madero was killed, reputedly during an attempt to escape.