Victoriano Huerta

Full Name: José Victoriano Huerta Márquez
Profession: Dictator and President of Mexico

Nationality:

Biography: Victoriano Huerta was a Mexican military officer who served as the 39th President. His rule emerged amidst the chaos of the Mexican Revolution and ended with his ouster, a pivotal moment in Mexico's path towards a constitutional government.

Born in 1850 in Colotlán, Victoriano Huerta was the son of Jesús Huerta Córdoba and María Lázara del Refugio Márquez Villalobos. After an early education from a local priest, Huerta entered the military academy in Mexico City in 1872. He married Emilia Águila Moya in 1880, and they started a family.

A loyal officer under President Porfirio Díaz, Huerta became known for his unyielding and efficient approach, especially during military campaigns against indigenous groups like the Yaqui and Maya peoples. He saw Díaz's leadership style as a paradigm of firm governance. Huerta took a brief hiatus from military life in 1907 due to health issues but made a notable return during the Mexican Revolution.

Under President Francisco I. Madero, Huerta put down several upheavals, proving crucial in the face of challenges from leaders like Pascual Orozco and Emilio Zapata. In February 1913, his allegiance to Madero wavered and he engineered a coup which led to the Ten Tragic Days, culminating in Madero's assassination and Huerta's assumption of the presidency.

Huerta's tenure was full of difficulty, however, facing diplomatic tensions with the United States under President Woodrow Wilson and battling continuous uprisings from revolutionary factions. Ultimately the mounting pressures compelled Huerta to abdicate his post in July 1914.

Following his resignation, he lived in exile but was eventually detained in the United States and passed away in 1916, implicated in conspiracy claims tied to German wartime schemes.

Born: December 23, 1850
Birthplace: Agua Gorda, Colotlán, Jalisco, Mexico
Star Sign: Capricorn

Died: January 13, 1916 (aged 65)
Cause of Death: Cirrhosis of the liver or possibly of cancer