Pancho Villa
/ˌpæntʃəʊ ˈviːə/
/ˌpɑːntʃəʊ ˈviːə/
- (c. 1877-1923) a Mexican soldier who led a revolution against the Mexican government and became very popular with poor people. In 1916, he killed 16 US citizens in Mexico and then attacked Columbus, New Mexico. The US General John Pershing took an army to Mexico and hunted for Villa for 11 months without success. Villa later led a peaceful life but was murdered by political rivals.