Gustavo Adolfo Madero also known to many as "Ojo Pardo" [1] (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 from 1911 to 1913. During the coup d'état in Mexico City known as La decena trágica ("the ten tragic days"), Gustavo Madero was killed after being tortured in 1913 by order of Victoriano Huerta and U.S. ambassador Henry Lane Wilson.
A borough in Mexico City is named after Gustavo A. Madero
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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 Díaz government, but these failed as the revolution continued and peace negotiations broke down.[2]
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.[2]
In May 1911, before of the taking of Ciudad Juárez and the fall of the Díaz government, Madero requested the resignation of Díaz 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 Díaz signed his resignation on 25 May.[2]
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 José María 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 18 February, an open pact was signed between Victoriano Huerta and Félix Díaz, titled the Pact of the Embassy. [3]
Gustavo A. Madero, and his brother Francisco mentioned in the 1992 book All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. Alejandra's great aunt is said to have been associated with the two men when they were young, and even had an ill fated romantic relationship with Gustavo. The brothers betrayal and execution are also mentioned in the book.
After his death, an etching of his body was made by famous artist José Guadalupe Posada and published on a broadside by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo telling the story of his life and ultimate death by firing squad.[1]