Obregón, Álvaro (1880-1928)

Mexican soldier and Constitutionalist politician, president 1920-24. His anticlerical measures prompted church opposition and in 1923-24 Victoriano Huerta led a revolt against him. This was crushed, and Plutárco Elías Calles, Obregón's chosen candidate, became president in 1924. Obregón was chosen president again in 1928, but was assassinated by a Roman Catholic fanatic 16 days after the election, before taking up office.

Born in Sonora state, he followed the family tradition of farming and, in 1911, supported Francisco Madero in the revolution against Porfirio Díaz. Obregón formed his own army, partly comprising Mayo Indians, which, in 1913-14, worked with his fellow Constitutionalist, Venustiano Carranza to overthrow Victoriano Huerta, who had usurped the presidency from Madero. Obregón remained allied to Carranza after the latter became president in 1914, and fought against Carranza's opponents, including Francisco Villa, whom he defeated on several occasions. Between 1917 and 1919 Obregón returned to Sonora to run his estate. However, when Carranza sought to avoid an agreed transfer of power in 1920, Obregón led a revolt to overthrow Carranza. After an interim administration by Adolfo de la Huerta, Obregón became president and pushed through agrarian, education, and labour reforms, which Carranza had shelved.