Gustavo A. Madero

Gustavo Adolfo Madero (1875 – 18 February, 1913), born in Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila, Mexico, was a participant in the Mexican Revolution against Porfirio Díaz along with other members of his wealthy family.

Madero's brother, Francisco I. Madero, was president of Mexico (1911-1913). During the coup d'etat in Mexico City known as "La decena tragica" ("the ten tragic days"), Gustavo Madero was killed after being tortured in 1913 by order of Victoriano Huerta (and American ambassador Henry Lane Wilson).

A borough in Mexico City is named after Gustavo A. Madero

Mexican Revolution

There were many divisions within the Madero family; some of its members wished for a peace agreement, hoping to avoid the problems that the civil war would bring to their businesses and investments. Talks were arranged in New York with a minister of the Diaz government, but these failed as the revolution continued and peace negotiations broke down.cite web |author=Rosas, Alejandro |title=Los entretelones de la revolucion maderista |publisher=Open Publishing |date=2006-05-18 |work=Sabias que |url=http://fox.presidencia.gob.mx/ |accessdate=2007-10-10 |language=Spanish]

Madero's only remaining option was to obtain a loan. He took advantage of the instability of Mexican politics and shifted alliances in order to interview with important investors. He eventually spent the entirety of his fortune in developing his political strategies.

In May, 1911, before of the taking of Juarez City and the fall of Porfirio Diaz government, Madero requested the resignation of Diaz as a condition of peace. At the time Gustavo Madero was negotiating a loan, and after the event Standard Oil extended a substantial line of credit to the revolutionaries. Porfirio Diaz signed his resignation on May 25.

The Ten Tragic Days

Gustavo A. Madero was the one to uncover the participation of Victoriano Huerta in the conspiracy. Consequently, the Senate asked for the resignation of Gustavo and his colleague Pino Suárez. They were taken as prisoners of Huerta, as the military was slow to advance. Gustavo was locked up inside the Gambrinus restaurant before being given to troops who subsequently tortured and killed him. On February 18, an open pact was signed between Victoriano Huerta and Felix Diaz, titled the Pact of the Embassy. [cite web |title=La Decena Tragica |publisher=Open Publishing |url=http://www.iea.gob.mx/ |accessdate=2007-10-10 |language=Spanish]

References

External links

* [http://www.mex4you.com/Biografias/tv7.htm A short biography of Gustavo A. Madero]