Victoriano
Huerta was born in Jalisco and studied at the military academy in Mexico City.
He became a general in the federal army of dictator Profirio Diaz, but when
Diaz was overthrown and Madero became President, Huerta remained in the federal
army, serving Madero. He was a key player in the Mexico Revolution; although he
was eventually driven from Mexico by a loose coalition of revolutionaries.
Huerta was the 35th President
of Mexico and served in office from February 1913 to July 1914. Although if you put the title of
President aside and read about what people thought of him, he wasn’t respected
in the least. Many consider him the worst villain of the Mexican Revolution. By
many historical accounts, Huerta was a liar, a thief and a traitor…among other
things. He fought alongside Francisco Madero and defended Madero’s presidency
when uprisings occurred, but he ended up betraying his partner. Him and Felix
Diaz created Madero to be arrested and shortly after Madero was shot dead.
Everyone knew that Huerta was behind the murder, although there wasn’t any
actual proof. Once he had “gotten rid of” Madero, Huerta rose to power and
succeeded Madero as President of Mexico.
Saying
Huerta was not a popular president for most Mexicans is a big understatement.
He was feared and despised by his supporters and enemies alike. Not only did he
receive hatred from the people of Mexico, he also received distrust from the
U.S. government. President Woodrow Wilson recalled the current U.S. ambassador
Henry Lane Wilson and ordered that the Mexican port of Veracruz be seized when
they found out that German ships were bringing arms to Huerta. Ironically, they
were American arms. Wilson sensed that the President of Mexico was unstable. Huerta’s
presidency ended up ending on the eve of Europe’s entry to World War I – July,
1914.
He
was forced into exile as the “Constitutionalists,” (combined forces of
Carranza, Obregon and Villa), defeated his federal troops in battles all across
the Northern half of the nation. Huerta never fully regained his freedom, and
died in a Texas prison early in 1916 – of cirrhosis of the liver.
Sources:
1) http://www.biography.com/people/victoriano-huerta-39094
2) http://www.emersonkent.com/history_notes/victoriano_huerta.htm
3) http://www.biography.com/people/victoriano-huerta-39094
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