Victoriano Huerta

Victoriano Huerta (1854-1916), Mexican general, statesman, and president of Mexico (1913-1914), born in Colotlán, Jalisco State, and educated at Chapultepec Military College. He served in the Mexican army and was promoted to the rank of brigadier general by President Porfirio Díaz in 1902. He remained in active service in the army during the administration of Francisco I. Madero, but in February 1913, while in command of the government forces sent to suppress an insurrection, Huerta turned against Madero and forced his resignation. Madero was killed a few days later, and Huerta became provisional president. The hostile attitude of the United States towards Huerta's regime, a clash between the United States and Mexico at Tampico involving the seizure of crew members of an American ship, and the rising pressure from opponents of his dictatorial regime finally forced Huerta to resign in July 1914. He was in exile in Europe and the United States between 1914 and 1916 and was arrested twice in the United States for conspiring to incite a revolution in Mexico. He died in El Paso, Texas (United States), while in custody of the US government following an attempt to cross into Mexico.