Madero, Francisco Ignacio

(1873‒ 1913) was a Mexican statesman, writer, and revolutionary. An advocate for social justice and democracy, Madero was instrumental in creating the revolutionary movement that began in 1910 and led to the fall of the dictatorship of then-president, Porfirio Diaz. Madero was elected president in1911 by almost 90% of the vote, being one of Mexico’s youngest elected presidents having just turned 38. Despite considerable popularity amongst the people, his administration soon encountered opposition both from more radical revolutionaries and from remnants of the former regime. In 1913, a military coup took place led by Victoriano Huerta. Madero was arrested and a short time later assassinated along with his Vice-President, José Suárez. The death of Madero and Suárez led to a national and international outcry, which paved the way for the fall of the Huerta Dictatorship, the triumph of the Mexican Revolution and the establishment of the 1917 Constitution of Mexico under ‘maderista’ Venustiano Carranza.