Francisco León de la Barra
Encyclopedia
Francisco León de la Barra y Quijano (Querétaro
, June 16, 1863 – September 23, 1939 in Biarritz
, France) was a Mexican
political figure and diplomat, who served as interim president of Mexico
from May 25 to November 6, 1911.
He obtained a degree in law in Querétaro before entering politics as a federal deputy in 1891. In 1892 he attended the Ibero-American Judicial Conference held in Madrid on the occasion of the four hundredth anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America.
In 1896 León de la Barra entered the diplomatic corps, serving as envoy to Brazil
, Argentina, Uruguay
, Paraguay, Belgium
, the Netherlands
, and the United States (1909–11). He is credited in Mexico with convincing U.S. President William Howard Taft
that the 1911 Mexico revolt against Porfirio Díaz
did not justify U.S. intervention.
He was Mexico's representative at the The Hague peace conference in 1907
. During this time, he earned a reputation as an authority on international law
. On March 25, 1911 he briefly became foreign secretary under Díaz.
President Porfirio Díaz was reelected for a seventh time on October 4, 1910. As a result, Francisco I. Madero
rose in revolt, proclaiming the Plan de San Luis. The revolt was successful, and Díaz signed the Treaty of Ciudad Juárez
on May 21, 1911, in which Díaz agreed to resign. His resignation took effect on May 25, and León de la Barra was made interim president until new elections could be held. He served until November 6, 1911, when Madero took office as the duly elected president.
León de la Barra served again as foreign secretary, from February 11, 1913 to July 4, 1914, in the government of usurper General Victoriano Huerta
. He was elected governor of the State of Mexico
in 1914, but he soon resigned to pursue a career in international law in Europe. He was ambassador to France and president of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
, located in The Hague
. He participated in various international commissions after World War I and wrote many works on judicial and administrative affairs. In early 1939, León de la Barra was used by the French Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet
as an unofficial diplomat to begin talks with General Francisco Franco
for French recognition of the Spanish Nationalists as the legitimate government of Spain. As a result of the talks León de la Barra began, France recognized the Spanish Nationalists in February 1939. He died in Biarritz
in 1939, without ever having returned to Mexico.
He married María Elena Barneque, and when she died he remarried her sister, María del Refugio Barneque.
Santiago de Querétaro
Santiago de Querétaro is the capital and largest city of the state of Querétaro, located in central Mexico. It is located 213 km northwest of Mexico City, 96 km southeast of San Miguel de Allende and 200 km south of San Luis Potosí...
, June 16, 1863 – September 23, 1939 in Biarritz
Biarritz
Biarritz is a city which lies on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in south-western France. It is a luxurious seaside town and is popular with tourists and surfers....
, France) was a Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
political figure and diplomat, who served as interim president of Mexico
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 May 25 to November 6, 1911.
He obtained a degree in law in Querétaro before entering politics as a federal deputy in 1891. In 1892 he attended the Ibero-American Judicial Conference held in Madrid on the occasion of the four hundredth anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America.
In 1896 León de la Barra entered the diplomatic corps, serving as envoy to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Argentina, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, Paraguay, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and the United States (1909–11). He is credited in Mexico with convincing U.S. President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
that the 1911 Mexico revolt against Porfirio Díaz
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
did not justify U.S. intervention.
He was Mexico's representative at the The Hague peace conference in 1907
Hague Conventions (1899 and 1907)
The Hague Conventions were two international treaties negotiated at international peace conferences at The Hague in the Netherlands: The First Hague Conference in 1899 and the Second Hague Conference in 1907...
. During this time, he earned a reputation as an authority on international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
. On March 25, 1911 he briefly became foreign secretary under Díaz.
President Porfirio Díaz was reelected for a seventh time on October 4, 1910. As a result, Francisco I. Madero
Francisco I. Madero
Francisco Ignacio Madero González was a politician, writer and revolutionary who served as President of Mexico from 1911 to 1913. As a respectable upper-class politician, he supplied a center around which opposition to the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz could coalesce...
rose in revolt, proclaiming the Plan de San Luis. The revolt was successful, and Díaz signed the Treaty of Ciudad Juárez
Treaty of Ciudad Juárez
The Treaty of Ciudad Juárez was a peace treaty signed between the then President of Mexico, Porfirio Díaz, and the revolutionary Francisco Madero on May 21, 1911...
on May 21, 1911, in which Díaz agreed to resign. His resignation took effect on May 25, and León de la Barra was made interim president until new elections could be held. He served until November 6, 1911, when Madero took office as the duly elected president.
León de la Barra served again as foreign secretary, from February 11, 1913 to July 4, 1914, in the government of usurper General Victoriano Huerta
Victoriano Huerta
José Victoriano Huerta Márquez was a Mexican military officer and president of Mexico. Huerta's supporters were known as Huertistas during the Mexican Revolution...
. He was elected governor of the State of Mexico
Governor of the State of Mexico
The Governor of the State of Mexico wields executive power in the State of Mexico ....
in 1914, but he soon resigned to pursue a career in international law in Europe. He was ambassador to France and president of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
Permanent Court of Arbitration
The Permanent Court of Arbitration , is an international organization based in The Hague in the Netherlands.-History:The court was established in 1899 as one of the acts of the first Hague Peace Conference, which makes it the oldest institution for international dispute resolution.The creation of...
, located in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. He participated in various international commissions after World War I and wrote many works on judicial and administrative affairs. In early 1939, León de la Barra was used by the French Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet
Georges Bonnet
Not to be confused with the French Socialist Georges MonnetGeorges-Étienne Bonnet was a French politician and leading figure in the Radical-Socialist Party.- Early career :...
as an unofficial diplomat to begin talks with General Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
for French recognition of the Spanish Nationalists as the legitimate government of Spain. As a result of the talks León de la Barra began, France recognized the Spanish Nationalists in February 1939. He died in Biarritz
Biarritz
Biarritz is a city which lies on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in south-western France. It is a luxurious seaside town and is popular with tourists and surfers....
in 1939, without ever having returned to Mexico.
He married María Elena Barneque, and when she died he remarried her sister, María del Refugio Barneque.