Francisco Indalecio Madero

Born Oct. 30, 1873, in the state of Coahuila; died Feb. 22, 1913, near Veracruz. Mexican statesman. Son of a big landowner.

Madero studied in Mexico, France, and the USA. He began his political career in 1904, coming out against the dictatorship of P. Diaz. Madero played a prominent role in the preparation and initial stages of the Mexican Revolution of 1910-17. Having become president (November 1911), he carried out a number of progressive measures directed at weakening the position of foreign imperialism and domestic reaction. His government was overthrown by a counterrevolutionary mutiny in February 1913 and he was murdered.