Emilio Portes Gil
Encyclopedia
Emilio Cándido Portes Gil (October 3, 1890 – December 10, 1978) was President of Mexico
from 1928 to 1930.
, the capital of the state of Tamaulipas
in northeast Mexico.
He was in law school during the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution
and in late 1914 he allied himself with revolutionary Venustiano Carranza
(who would assume the presidency of the country the following May) and, when he graduated in 1915, he had already begun his career in the public administration with a posting in the Department of Military Justice.
Over the ensuing years he continued to serve the government in both a legal capacity – supreme state court judge in Sonora
; legal advisor to the Ministry of War – and in elective office: he was elected to Congress in 1917, 1921, and 1923, and he served as governor of his native Tamaulipas on two occasions (1920 and 1925).
Between August 28 and November 30, 1928 he was Minister of the Interior in the cabinet of Plutarco Elías Calles
. Since president-elect Álvaro Obregón
had been assassinated on July 17, 1928 by a religious fanatic, it fell to Portes to assume office as provisional president for a period of 14 months while fresh elections were called. At this point he also inherited a widespread and violent religious rebellion known as the Cristero War
.
Faced with a university strike during his period in office, he managed to defuse the situation by convening a special session of Congress that ultimately enacted the legislation whereby the National University of Mexico
was granted its autonomy.
He also attempted to negotiate the withdrawal of the United States troops from Nicaragua
in exchange for the surrender of General Augusto Sandino; when the talks failed, he granted Sandino political asylum in Mexico – and a parcel of land in Temixco
.
He handed on the presidential sash to Pascual Ortiz on February 5, 1930, in whose cabinet he then served for 18 months as interior minister.
He subsequently traveled to Europe as Mexico's first representative to the League of Nations
.
Under later presidents, he served in various capacities, including ambassador, foreign minister, attorney-general
, and president of the Partido Nacional Revolucionario – the National Revolutionary Party, which would later restyle itself the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
He retired from politics in 1936. He died in Mexico City on December 10, 1978, at the age of 88 years.
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
from 1928 to 1930.
Biography
Portes Gil was born in Ciudad VictoriaCiudad Victoria
Ciudad Victoria , is the capital city of the Mexican state ofTamaulipas. It is located in the western-central region of the state. Ciudad Victoria is also the municipal seat of the surrounding Victoria Municipality, which covers an area of 1,638 km²...
, the capital of the state of Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
in northeast Mexico.
He was in law school during the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
and in late 1914 he allied himself with revolutionary Venustiano Carranza
Venustiano Carranza
Venustiano Carranza de la Garza, was one of the leaders of the Mexican Revolution. He ultimately became President of Mexico following the overthrow of the dictatorial Huerta regime in the summer of 1914 and during his administration the current constitution of Mexico was drafted...
(who would assume the presidency of the country the following May) and, when he graduated in 1915, he had already begun his career in the public administration with a posting in the Department of Military Justice.
Over the ensuing years he continued to serve the government in both a legal capacity – supreme state court judge in Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
; legal advisor to the Ministry of War – and in elective office: he was elected to Congress in 1917, 1921, and 1923, and he served as governor of his native Tamaulipas on two occasions (1920 and 1925).
Between August 28 and November 30, 1928 he was Minister of the Interior in the cabinet of Plutarco Elías Calles
Plutarco Elías Calles
Plutarco Elías Calles was a Mexican general and politician. He was president of Mexico from 1924 to 1928, but he continued to be the de facto ruler from 1928–1935, a period known as the maximato...
. Since president-elect Álvaro Obregón
Álvaro Obregón
General Álvaro Obregón Salido was the President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924. He was assassinated in 1928, shortly after winning election to another presidential term....
had been assassinated on July 17, 1928 by a religious fanatic, it fell to Portes to assume office as provisional president for a period of 14 months while fresh elections were called. At this point he also inherited a widespread and violent religious rebellion known as the Cristero War
Cristero War
The Cristero War of 1926 to 1929 was an uprising and counter-revolution against the Mexican government in power at that time. The rebellion was set off by the strict enforcement of the anti-clerical provisions of the Mexican Constitution of 1917 and the expansion of further anti-clerical laws...
.
Faced with a university strike during his period in office, he managed to defuse the situation by convening a special session of Congress that ultimately enacted the legislation whereby the National University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
was granted its autonomy.
He also attempted to negotiate the withdrawal of the United States troops from Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
in exchange for the surrender of General Augusto Sandino; when the talks failed, he granted Sandino political asylum in Mexico – and a parcel of land in Temixco
Temixco
Temixco is the fourth-largest city in the Mexican state of Morelos. It stands at in the west-northwest part of the state.The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality, with which it shares a name. The city had a 2005 census population of 89,915 persons, while the...
.
He handed on the presidential sash to Pascual Ortiz on February 5, 1930, in whose cabinet he then served for 18 months as interior minister.
He subsequently traveled to Europe as Mexico's first representative to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
.
Under later presidents, he served in various capacities, including ambassador, foreign minister, attorney-general
Attorney General (Mexico)
The Attorney General of Mexico is the head of the Office of the General Prosecutor and the Federal Public Ministry , an institution belonging to the Federal executive branch that is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of...
, and president of the Partido Nacional Revolucionario – the National Revolutionary Party, which would later restyle itself the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
He retired from politics in 1936. He died in Mexico City on December 10, 1978, at the age of 88 years.