Victoriano Huerta

José Victoriano Huerta Márquez (Spanish pronunciation: [biktoˈɾjano ˈwerta]; 22 December 1850 – 13 January 1916) was a Mexican military officer and president of Mexico.

After a military career under President Porfirio Díaz, Huerta became a high-ranking officer under pro-democracy President Francisco Madero during the first phase of the Mexican Revolution. In 1913, Huerta led a counter-revolutionary coup, the Ten Tragic Days, in which Madero was deposed and then assassinated. The Huerta regime was immediately opposed by revolutionary forces, and Huerta was forced to resign and flee the country in 1914, after 17 months as president. While attempting to intrigue with German spies in the United States during World War I, Huerta was arrested in 1915 and died in U.S. custody.